Cougar found in trap near Boissevain

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This article was published 08/12/2015 (3771 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A cougar accidentally trapped in southwestern Manitoba is now thawing in Winnipeg before a necropsy can be performed next week.

Bill Watkins, a zoologist with Manitoba Conservation, said the cougar will thaw for about 10 days to ensure there is a minimal amount of tissue damage before the autopsy.

The female cougar was found in a coyote snare on Nov. 21 about 20 kilometres southeast of Boissevain near the northern boundary of the Wakapa wildlife management area.

“It’s beginning to look like this is a potential corridor for movement for North Dakota into Manitoba,” Watkins said.

It’s the fifth cougar found in the province since 2004, he said.

The cougar population has rebounded in the northern United States more recently, according to Watkins. A breeding population now exists in South Dakota and has slowly spread to North Dakota and Nebraska.

Watkins hopes this is the start of a rebound in Manitoba as well.

“Cougars were here historically,” Watkins said, adding that there are many stories from First Nations elders about the large cats.

“Every animal that is unfortunately killed does provide information but it is a tragedy at the same time because it’s an animal that could be contributing to breeding and creating a sustainable population in Manitoba.”

He estimates the cougar, which was approximately 110 pounds and slightly more than two metres in length, is three years old.

Watkins said males cougars can travel more than 1,000 kilometres looking for territory, but the females tend to stay closer to maternal ranges.

“Big male cats don’t tolerate younger male cats,” Watkins said. “They’ll chase them off the ranges. They are basically solitary animals except when they are breeding and have kittens. Even then the male takes off and the female raises the kittens alone.”

Those traits make it exciting news to find a female because, “It could mean that this was animal that was born relatively close by or even in Manitoba.”

The predatory animal traditionally feeds on the deer population, according to Watkins, but they will also eat rabbit, porcupine, small elk, groundhog and grouse.

“They can be dangerous,” Watkins said. “Certainly an area with a lot of cougars there is the occasional depredation incident on livestock but I think it’s manageable. And Manitobans are used to living with wolves and black bears … so I think we can co-exist with these animals.”

Last year, there were approximately 40 cougar sightings in the province, the majority in Westman.

Watkins said most sightings only last a few seconds, but if you are “blessed” to see the animal longer it’s important to know how to act.

If the animal shows undue interest he said to back up slowly to safety. If that doesn’t work make sure you’re loud, aggressive and wave your arms.

“Make it known that you are not prey,” Watkins said. “If you have small children, pick them up because if they break or run that’s what prey does and it could illicit a chase response.”

There has never been a reported cougar attack on a human in Manitoba, he said.

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