Wildlife has been making itself known in the Central Okanagan recently.

Cougars, coyotes and bobcats have been on the prowl. Last Sunday (Jan. 16), a cougar lunged at a man walking his dog in Mission Creek Regional Park, but it was fortunately scared off.

91裸聊视频淔or a cougar to attack a dog on a leash is quite uncommon,91裸聊视频� says Vanessa Isnardy, WildsafeBC program manager. 91裸聊视频淟ike most wildlife, they try to avoid people as much as possible. Cougar attacks on people are still very rare. We91裸聊视频檙e not their prey and we spook their prey as well. Basically, it91裸聊视频檚 good to be aware year-round because if it91裸聊视频檚 not coyotes and cats it91裸聊视频檚 going to be bears. When you91裸聊视频檙e out there using nature trails be aware and in tune with what91裸聊视频檚 happening on the landscape. Always keep your pets on a leash. Most dogs do not have very good recall when it comes to seeing wildlife, the instinct to chase is so strong. That leads to a lot of conflicts between our pets and wildlife.91裸聊视频�

Read More: Cougar lunges at man and dog in Mission Creek Regional Park

It91裸聊视频檚 also mating season for coyotes.

91裸聊视频淩ight now we91裸聊视频檙e heading into a period where coyotes are going to be a little bit more frisky and active,91裸聊视频� adds Isnardy.

Coyotes mate from late January to mid-March and will produce an average of five pups in April to mid-May. Much like coyotes, cougars are active year-round. The big cats can travel long distances, up to 50 km in one day. Young cougars, especially males, will venture out on their own trying to find new habitats and home ranges. Sometimes they venture on the edges of human-dominated landscapes and may prey on free-ranging pets or young livestock. Their primary prey is deer and they will sometimes follow deer in areas where they over-winter, such as valley bottoms.

If you find yourself staring down a cougar or coyote, Isnardy says there are several things you can do to scare them off.

91裸聊视频淵ou want to make yourself look as big as possible,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淵ou want to let that cougar know that first of all you91裸聊视频檙e not a deer. Don91裸聊视频檛 turn your back because that makes you look more susceptible (to attack). Stand your ground, and don91裸聊视频檛 run. Open up your jacket and put your arms up in the air, use a deep voice and just yell at it to leave you alone. Hopefully, that will be enough that the cougar will think twice about trying to approach you.91裸聊视频�

If a cougar, or coyote, decides to attack you, Isnardy says you are fighting for your life.

91裸聊视频淵ou are going to do everything in your power, as viciously as possible to protect yourself,91裸聊视频� she adds. 91裸聊视频淕o for the eyes or try and hit it in the ribs, and if you91裸聊视频檙e with someone you should never leave that person alone and go for help. Stay with that person and fend off that cougar. Cougars don91裸聊视频檛 want to get injured, so if they91裸聊视频檙e getting a lot of injuries there is definitely a chance you can beat off the attack, and people have been successful in fending off attacks.91裸聊视频�

If you have small children with you, Isnardy recommends you keep them within arms reach if you are in wildlife country. Pick them up immediately if there is a threat of an attack, and if it91裸聊视频檚 an older child you can91裸聊视频檛 pick up, keep them in front of you not behind you.

91裸聊视频淭hat may seem counter-intuitive, but you can91裸聊视频檛 control the situation if they are behind you and they may make a break for it and run,91裸聊视频� says Isnardy. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 actually better to place the child in front of you and put your hands firmly on their shoulders and keep an eye on the situation with the two of you being large and loud. There have been less than 10 fatalities in a hundred years by cougars, and the vast majority of those have been on Vancouver Island. Again, cougar attacks on people and children are rare.91裸聊视频�

Coyote attacks are very rare as well according to Isnardy.

91裸聊视频淎s you may be aware there was a rash of them in Stanley Park, and those were mostly people who were running and they were nipped from behind,91裸聊视频� she adds. 91裸聊视频淐oyotes will attack deer and nip them from behind. People who are jogging in wildlife areas need to be even more vigilant. Don91裸聊视频檛 wear earbuds and be aware of your surroundings, because the act of running can trigger a chase response in a wild animal.91裸聊视频�

More information on reducing conflict with wildlife can be found on the

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