A local cougar affectionately named Doug has caused a bit of a stir around Banff recently after he caused the closure of Cascade Ponds after the successful hunt of an elk.

Doug has recently been enjoying a good spate of hunting with three other elk’s suffering from his skills in the last month. The decision to close down Cascade Ponds was made by Parks Canada, who were afraid of altercations between the cougar and walkers with pets.

In a good example of table manners, Steve Michel, a human-wildlife conflict specialist for Banff National Park said: “we want to give the cougar a chance to feed on a hard-earned carcass and give him space and time to allow him to consume it.”

Michel was quick to point out that Doug (named after he hid away up a Douglas Pine Tree in his youth) has a good reputation. “People have stumbled into a situation where he’s on a carcass and he’s always run away. His behavior has always been good and he’s doing what a cougar does, which is traveling through the landscape and killing large ungulates,” he said.

However, just in case you should find yourself face to face with a cougar or another predator, here are some of Banff Ranger’s recommendations.

No Comments »