Conservation officers are investigating a cougar sighting near Kinsmen Park that was reported on Monday night.
While the sighting was reported to authorities and shared on Facebook by a concerned citizen, COs have been unable to contact the complainant or locate the animal.
“We haven’t planned any capture activity or actioning or anything like that,” said Sgt. Cam Schley, a conservation officer based in Cranbrook. “We’re just treating it as a sighting right now.”
The sighting itself details a cougar spotted in the field portion of the Park adjacent to Victoria Ave.
It’s the second reported incident of recent predator activity, as a black bear also forced it’s way through a fence into a homeowner’s backyard bordering the Cranbrook Golf Course last Saturday.
The bear stayed around for much of the day before leaving sometime during the night.
Schley confirms that there are still a lot of bear sightings coming in from around the region.
“Our bear calls are significant right now,” Schley said. “We’re getting a lot of bear complaints daily—both grizzly and black bear—from Cranbrook, Kimberley and the whole Elk Valley.”
To report any wildlife, call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277, which is open 24 hours, seven days a week. The information is passed on to the local branch of the Conservation Officer Service, where it is recorded and responded to if needed.
