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08-18-2004, 09:59 AM
source http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=ab_home&articleID=1689403
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004
Alberta issues warning after cougar attacks boy, 5
JASPER, Alta. (CP) - Wildlife officials were advising the public Tuesday to be cautious in backcountry areas after a cougar attacked a child three days ago near Jasper National Park.
The cougar knocked down a five-year-old boy while his family was camping near the park's east gate. The family was not in a registered campground, said Christopher Watson, a fish and wildlife officer for Alberta Sustainable Resources.
The boy escaped with minor wounds when his father and others chased the animal away with kicks and shouts, the news release issued Tuesday said.
Wildlife officers spent two days trying to track the cougar with hounds, but the dogs lost the animal's scent, Watson said.
He added he spread the word to local communities, but confirmed that nothing was done for three days to alert tourists generally about the attack.
Mike Cardinal, the minister in charge of the department, was not available for comment.
A department spokseman, John Lear, said red tape that requires the approval of news releases held up a formal public alert.
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004
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Dad kicks attacking cougar off boy outside Jasper
JASPER, Alta. (CP) - When Rod Stepanick saw the cougar leap onto his five-year-old son, there wasn't much hesitation.
"We just started kicking it," Stepanick said Tuesday from his home in Vermilion, Alta. "Wherever."
The Stepanicks and a group of friends had just pulled into a campsite Saturday morning a few kilometres east of the Jasper National Park boundary for a weekend of wilderness adventure on the area's designated ATV trails.
As the adults set up camp and prepared to head out, three of the boys circled the site impatiently.
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004
Alberta issues warning after cougar attacks boy, 5
JASPER, Alta. (CP) - Wildlife officials were advising the public Tuesday to be cautious in backcountry areas after a cougar attacked a child three days ago near Jasper National Park.
The cougar knocked down a five-year-old boy while his family was camping near the park's east gate. The family was not in a registered campground, said Christopher Watson, a fish and wildlife officer for Alberta Sustainable Resources.
The boy escaped with minor wounds when his father and others chased the animal away with kicks and shouts, the news release issued Tuesday said.
Wildlife officers spent two days trying to track the cougar with hounds, but the dogs lost the animal's scent, Watson said.
He added he spread the word to local communities, but confirmed that nothing was done for three days to alert tourists generally about the attack.
Mike Cardinal, the minister in charge of the department, was not available for comment.
A department spokseman, John Lear, said red tape that requires the approval of news releases held up a formal public alert.
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004
Email this to a friend
print this page
Dad kicks attacking cougar off boy outside Jasper
JASPER, Alta. (CP) - When Rod Stepanick saw the cougar leap onto his five-year-old son, there wasn't much hesitation.
"We just started kicking it," Stepanick said Tuesday from his home in Vermilion, Alta. "Wherever."
The Stepanicks and a group of friends had just pulled into a campsite Saturday morning a few kilometres east of the Jasper National Park boundary for a weekend of wilderness adventure on the area's designated ATV trails.
As the adults set up camp and prepared to head out, three of the boys circled the site impatiently.