O’Grady, a Nanaimo Search and Rescue member, said the four cougars appeared to be together as one group, despite the other big cats being about 150 meters away on higher terrain.
He said the two close-by cougars profiled as young adults, who appeared to be intentionally situated directly beside the trail.
“We backed away, we stayed as a group; we maintained eye contact until we couldn’t see them,” O’Grady said. “We had headlamps on, so their eyes stood out pretty clearly.”
O’Grady said the cougars beside the trail appeared unbothered by their presence, which he stated weren’t displaying aggressive behaviour.
The animals weren’t growling, but stared intently at them, O’Grady recounted.
“As we backed away, they sort of stood up and walked toward us, but it looked like they were more trying to keep us in view than try to approach us.”
O’Grady has frequently used the trails in the Westwood Lake and Mount Benson areas for the past 25 years and never seen a cougar.
“The cats, they’re beautiful, they really are spectacular animals, and to see them up close, you can appreciate how wild they are.”
While describing the cougar encounter as exhilarating, O’Grady said the experience will likely sway him when he goes for his next backcountry run.
“I don’t run those trails a lot at night, and I’m not so sure I would again. I don’t think that would have been a great situation on your own.”
O’Grady’s summary of what occurred has spread on local social media channels, including a post on the public Facebook page: Nanaimo cougar and bear sightings.
According to the B.C. government, Vancouver Island has the highest concentration of cougars in North America, with an estimated population of 600 to 800. These cougars prefer mountainous, forested areas and are most active at dusk and dawn.
Vancouver Island’s high cougar count is linked to the abundant deer population, the B.C. Government noted, which supplied the following safety advice.
Cougar safety and encounter guidelines
Do not run: This can trigger an attack. Back away slowly, while keeping the cougar in view.
Make yourself look large: Raise your arms, stand tall, and speak in a loud, firm voice.
Pick up children: Pick them up immediately, without bending down.
If attacked: Do not run. Fight back aggressively using anything you can as a weapon, focusing on the face and eyes.
Prevent encounters: Avoid hiking alone, keep pets on a leash, and make noise to avoid surprising a cougar.
Never approach a cougar kitten: A mother will aggressively defend her young.
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