There has been a cougar sighting in Oak Bay, and residents should use caution when out walking, particularly with pets and small children.
Cougars wander into the CRD every year from west of Goldstream – they have no idea whether there are deer in Oak Bay, Saanich or Victoria until they arrive. They find raccoons, rabbits and livestock an easier prey than wild deer, along with domestic animals – so it’s important to keep your pets close.
Although there are many deer in Oak Bay, according to conservation officers COUGARS wander into urban areas “unwittingly” and the correlation between deer and cougars that one would find in the wild does not necessarily translate into an urban area. Cougars have been sighted in the CRD over many years, and removing deer will not prevent the occasional cougar from coming into Oak Bay.