McMullen said it is important for people carrying bear spray to understand how to use it and how to store and carry it in a safe way. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Sections of the popular Ammonite Falls Regional Trail have been temporarily closed by the regional district after an aggressive cougar was spotted in the area.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) announced on January 6 it would be closing parts of the hiking trail after a cougar displaying aggressive behaviour was first spotted on January 1.

The section of the Ammonite Falls Regional Trail between the Creekside trailhead and the falls viewpoint within Benson Creek Falls Regional Park has been closed until further notice.

The RDN states in a press release from January 6 that the B.C. Conservation Officer Service has been notified about the animal and asks the public to take precautions in case of wildlife encounters as cougars and other wildlife are part of the area’s natural environment.

As there is the chance to encounter wildlife anywhere in Nanaimo and the greater area, CHLY reached out to WildSafeBC to find out what to do to limit encounters with animals and what to do if encountering a cougar.

Karly McMullen, the WildSafeBC communications specialist told CHLY it’s important for people to take caution when walking in the woods.

She recommends that people hiking in the woods carry bear spray with them to reduce the risk of injuries if they encounter an aggressive animal.

“The most important thing, I would say, is to make sure that they have bear spray on them and it's accessible to them,” McMullen said. “[Have it] out in the open, so that they can easily access it when needed, and then also knowing how to use it would be really important because you can use bear spray on cougars.”

McMullen said it is important for people carrying bear spray to understand how to use it and how to store and carry it in a safe way.

WildSafeBC offers resources and tips online as well as in person workshops on how to use bear spray properly and safely.

She also recommends when being in the woods to maintain space from any wildlife that may be in the area.

“Just knowing, knowing a bit about how they behave, so you don't want to be out on the trails feeding deer, which are their primary prey, so you want to avoid that as well,” McMullen said.

If walking with a dog, McMullen said it is important to keep all pets on leashes to lower the risk of encountering a cougar.

“If you have small animals again, you just want to make sure that they're also safe,” she said. “So keeping them on leash is the best way to make sure that they're going to be safe as well, and won't attract the cougar if they're off wandering in the woods.”

If someone were to encounter a cougar on a trail, McMullen said it is important to stay calm and stop walking.

“You don't want to turn around or run away, you want to maintain eye contact with the cougar,” she said. “If it's close enough you want to look big, yell and be assertive, and then you'll back away slowly.”

For animals and small children, she said to pick them up and carry them until safety away from the cougar.

WildSafeBC recommends people report any cougars sightings in urban areas, or a cougar showing unusual or aggressive behaviour to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

More information on how to react when encountering specific wildlife species or minizine encounters can be found on the WildSafeBC website.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.