Cougar warning issued for Fish Creek Provincial Park

Alberta Parks issued a warning Saturday after a cougar was spotted around the Bebo Grove day use area in Fish Creek Provincial Park.

The Bebo Grove day use area is at the south end of 24th Street S.W., near Woodbine.

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Alberta Parks have a number of tips for staying safe around wildlife, including:

• Keep at least three bus lengths (30 metres) away from large animals.
• Keep about three times that distance (100 metres) away from bears.
• Keep children close to you.
• Avoid surprise encounters. Make noise to alert cougars of your presence (cougars generally avoid people).
• Keep your dog on a leash or leave it at home.
• Avoid any area where you smell a dead animal cougars often cover their kills with forest debris.

If you encounter a cougar:

• Always leave room for the cougar to escape.
• Immediately pick up small children.
• Do not run.
• Do not turn your back on the cougar.
• Back away slowly.
• Make yourself appear as large as possible. Open your jacket if you are wearing one.
• Maintain eye contact with the cougar.
• The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey and that you may be a threat to it.