Conservation officers are urging people who live in Lake Cowichan to be on the lookout and to keep their pets on a leash after two large wolves were spotted in the area.
A wilderness watch group says it’s received a number of calls from concerned residents after a pair of wolves were seen at least four times near hobby farms over the past few days.
“There was a cat and goose missing from a hobby farm,” said Denis Martel with the Valley Fish and Game Wilderness Watch. “The wolves are passing through, they’re looking for something to eat.”
According to the group, one woman came across a wolf five feet away from her house and another person saw the four-legged animal walk across a driveway on Cowichan Lake Road.
Conservation officers say there have been no signs of aggression from the wolves, unlike recent attacks on dogs on beaches near Tofino.
“We haven’t verified every call that’s come in, but we know there is a fair amount of wolf activity,” said conservation officer Scott Norris.
Officers aren’t going out for any of the calls because there is no cause for concern at this point, he says.
“If a wolf is showing aggression towards people without dogs we would probably take more of a stance of euthanization, but it really has to be a case by case basis,” Norris added.
People with pets in the Cowichan Valley are being advised to keep a close watch over their animals.
“If you’re out hiking in the woods, keep your dog on a leash," Norris said. "If you do see what you believe to be a wolf back away, don’t approach it, don’t let your dog approach it."
With files from CTV Vancouver Island`s Jessica Lepp
