Bobcat spotted from park trail in Burnaby, B.C.

A man walking his dog with his wife in Burnaby Lake park was in for a surprise when he stumbled across a bobcat close to the trail.

A Coquitlam man is reflecting on an unexpected wildlife encounter in an unexpected place, after coming face to face with a bobcat in Burnaby Lake park in Burnaby, B.C.

The man, who prefers not to be named for privacy reasons, had been walking his puppy with his wife along the Burnaby Lake trail during the warm evening of May 8 when the notoriously elusive big cat made its appearance.

“It was a short encounter, maybe just a minute before it was out of sight. It was originally walking across the field in our direction but turned and started walking away from us once it spotted us,” he says.

As the bobcat slinked back into the undergrowth, it would occasionally look back on the two – allowing the man to snap a couple of quick shots with his phone.

“It was probably more wary of us than we were of it. We suspect that we might have interrupted it from hunting,” he said, adding how there are usually many geese in the field where the bobcat had been spotted, but they were notably all in the water on this occasion.

Given that there was a good distance between the couple and the big cat, and it looked “relatively small and unthreatening”, the man said he and his wife felt more excited than unnerved.

The amateur wildlife photographer said he visits Burnaby Lake a few times a month during the spring and summer seasons, and had recalled seeing a social media post regarding one in the area the year previous, but had never witnessed one in the flesh himself.

According to David Karn, spokesperson for the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, three bobcat sightings have been reported in Burnaby this year. One in January, one in February, and a third in March, he said.

“It is quite rare to see a bobcat in general, especially near cities,” Karly McMullen, WildSafe BC spokesperson said.

McMullen said it would be difficult to pinpoint how long the bobcat has been in the area given they are “highly elusive and typically go unnoticed, even when they’re present in an area.”

While the cat’s choice of location in the busy Burnaby park is unusual, it is not entirely unheard of for them to frequent the area as they typically seek out areas near water sources like lakes, where prey like small mammals and birds are abundant in the warmer months, McMullen said.

“While bobcats usually avoid people, it’s important to stay cautious in wild areas with bushes or thick cover where animals may be hiding,” she said.

“Whether it’s a bobcat, cougar, coyote, bear or other B.C. wildlife, you want to avoid surprise encounters.”

McMullen advises walkers to be prepared by carrying bear spray – it works on bobcats – avoiding using headphones while walking or running, and staying aware of the surroundings.

For those who do find themselves experiencing a rare bobcat encounter, McMullen recommends staying calm and standing still – do not run. Be sure to maintain eye contact and appear large by raising your arms. Speak loudly and assertively, and back away slowly before leaving the area. Do not turn around, she says.

In the instance of an attack, “fight back, and use bear spray,” McMullen says.