scooter
05-20-2008, 11:40 AM
PUBLICATION: The Winnipeg Sun
DATE: 2008.05.15
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: 3
ILLUSTRATION: photo by Linda Dyck, For Sun Media Linda Dyck took a photo of a cougar passing through her yard.
BYLINE: SHANNON VANRAES, SUN MEDIA
WORD COUNT: 235
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Danger pays a visit Cougar calmly struts through yard near Plum Coulee
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Linda Dyck won't forget her surprise Mother's Day visitor anytime soon.
She and her husband Abe Dyck were at their home, located northwest of Plum Coulee, on Sunday when a cougar strutted through their yard.
"If he had wanted to get me, he could have," she said, noting the animal was about 10 metres away from her when she managed to snap its picture.
"I could have gotten a better shot, but I started to think I should be fearing for my life."
Dyck said her husband was outside the home when he first spotted the animal in a strip of thick bush along their property.
At roughly the same time, a group of neighbours arrived in a half-ton truck to warn them about the animal, which they had seen a short time before.
"Hindsight is 20/20. I should have stayed in the half-ton," she said, but added the cougar appeared calm as it trotted by.
"It wasn't like he was out to kill, he was very gentle looking," said Dyck.
However, she added one of her three cats has been missing since the time of the sighting.
"I'm not sure if he had him for breakfast or not," she said.
The witness suspects the large cat may have been lost when it found its way into her yard, figuring that it might have been in search of water.
The Dycks' property has a pond located on it, as well as a cow pasture.
Although she hasn't seen any trace of the big cat since Sunday, Dyck said she is now scanning the yard before heading outdoors.
Bill Watkins, a wildlife biologist with the wildlife branch of Manitoba Conservation, said cougar sightings are fairly rare in the province, with only a handful being confirmed over the last six years.
REPORT SIGHTINGS
When cougars are spotted, it's usually along the western and southern boarders of the province, said Watkins.
"We rely very much on observations by people to learn about cougars," he said, adding it's important people report sightings.
Although the species has never attacked anyone in Manitoba, Watkins said they shouldn't be approached.
"If you do see a cougar, remove yourself from the vicinity, back away slowly and keep your eyes on the cougar ... don't run," he said.
Watkins said if a cougar is stalking you, making loud noises, yelling, jumping and throwing things may scare it away.
"Cougars are ambush hunters, they don't want to fight," he said
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DATE: 2008.05.15
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: 3
ILLUSTRATION: photo by Linda Dyck, For Sun Media Linda Dyck took a photo of a cougar passing through her yard.
BYLINE: SHANNON VANRAES, SUN MEDIA
WORD COUNT: 235
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danger pays a visit Cougar calmly struts through yard near Plum Coulee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linda Dyck won't forget her surprise Mother's Day visitor anytime soon.
She and her husband Abe Dyck were at their home, located northwest of Plum Coulee, on Sunday when a cougar strutted through their yard.
"If he had wanted to get me, he could have," she said, noting the animal was about 10 metres away from her when she managed to snap its picture.
"I could have gotten a better shot, but I started to think I should be fearing for my life."
Dyck said her husband was outside the home when he first spotted the animal in a strip of thick bush along their property.
At roughly the same time, a group of neighbours arrived in a half-ton truck to warn them about the animal, which they had seen a short time before.
"Hindsight is 20/20. I should have stayed in the half-ton," she said, but added the cougar appeared calm as it trotted by.
"It wasn't like he was out to kill, he was very gentle looking," said Dyck.
However, she added one of her three cats has been missing since the time of the sighting.
"I'm not sure if he had him for breakfast or not," she said.
The witness suspects the large cat may have been lost when it found its way into her yard, figuring that it might have been in search of water.
The Dycks' property has a pond located on it, as well as a cow pasture.
Although she hasn't seen any trace of the big cat since Sunday, Dyck said she is now scanning the yard before heading outdoors.
Bill Watkins, a wildlife biologist with the wildlife branch of Manitoba Conservation, said cougar sightings are fairly rare in the province, with only a handful being confirmed over the last six years.
REPORT SIGHTINGS
When cougars are spotted, it's usually along the western and southern boarders of the province, said Watkins.
"We rely very much on observations by people to learn about cougars," he said, adding it's important people report sightings.
Although the species has never attacked anyone in Manitoba, Watkins said they shouldn't be approached.
"If you do see a cougar, remove yourself from the vicinity, back away slowly and keep your eyes on the cougar ... don't run," he said.
Watkins said if a cougar is stalking you, making loud noises, yelling, jumping and throwing things may scare it away.
"Cougars are ambush hunters, they don't want to fight," he said
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