3 cougars killed after attacking Vancouver Island farm animals

[Thomas D'Arcy McGee]

Three cougars were shot and killed after a Vancouver Island farmer reported that one of his lambs had been killed on Saturday. Two of the cats were juveniles and one was an adult female. (Fotolia)

3 cougars killed after attacking Vancouver Island farm animals

Adult female, 2 young males killed lamb, injured donkey, chased pigs near farmhouse: ministry

CBC News · Posted: Mar 06, 2018 11:54 AM PT | Last Updated: March 6

Three cougars have been killed after hunting livestock on a farmer's Vancouver Island property over the weekend.

The farmer phoned RCMP after the animals killed one of his lambs on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Environment.

The owner of the Comox Valley property said he'd tried to shoot the cat after it continued to chase after his pigs. He thought he hit it in the back, but the animal ran off.

Mounties called in conservation officers, who found two more cougars behind the lamb pen. RCMP shot and killed them.

A donkey ended up with a scratched ear after the cougar attack on Saturday. The Ministry of Environment said the animal was likely defending other livestock. (Shutterstock)

Neither of those cougars had previous gunshot wounds, so conservation officers returned with tracking dogs at dawn to search for another one.

A third cougar came to the property around 6:30 a.m. It was shot after it didn't run from the dogs or approaching officers. Instead, it crouched down and watched them get closer.

In a statement, the Ministry of Environment said it was necessary to shoot the animals because they'd been hunting close to the farmer's home, putting the family at risk.

The animals — two young males and an adult female — didn't display any fear of the officers or their dogs either, which isn't normal behaviour.

The ministry said none of the cougars had gunshot wounds, but that officers weren't searching for a fourth.

The lamb was the only animal killed by the cougars. The ministry said a pet donkey ended up with a scratched ear after "very likely" defending other livestock.

 

[Thomas D'Arcy McGee]

With that many cougars in the area, the farmer is going to have to buy some livestock guardian dogs!

 

[jiffx2781]

So a farmer exercised his RIGHTS to protect his livestock/property.

What's the point of this story?

 

[fraserdw]

Is there no cat season on the island? This seems like a very easy kill, they almost seem a little tame?

 

[nowarningshot]

So more anti hunting....anti firearms spam/trolling.

Which Liberal MSM outfit this time...the default is CBC, but sometimes she posts UK or Toronto Red star.

 

[play.soccer]

Oh boy this is gonna make people's heads EXPLODE!


Props to the farmer, would have done the same thing.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Things with cougars is, mama teaches them to hunt and sets the pattern for the rest of their lives, in this case, Lamb.

Grizz

 

[Magellann]

In this instance it looks like they took care of the problem before it caused more problems for the farmers in the area.

 

[Titan 08]

With that many cougars in the area, the farmer is going to have to buy some livestock guardian dogs!

No need, donkeys make some of the best livestock protection animals. Put them in a pasture with your livestock and they become very protective of other livestock and territorial in regards to their pastures.

 

[silverfoxdj]

No need, donkeys make some of the best livestock protection animals. Put them in a pasture with your livestock and they become very protective of other livestock and territorial in regards to their pastures.

I heard that as well ... guess they make a lot of noise when they hear an intruder

 

[jiffx2781]

With that many cougars in the area, the farmer is going to have to buy some livestock guardian dogs!

Forget about the dogs, he already has a donkey.

The best thing he can do now is work at improving his marksmanship skills. Once he can actually shoot them himself without calling for backup then he can work on his shoveling and shutting up skills.

It's people's own incompetence that lands stories like this in the media.

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

Forget about the dogs, he already has a donkey.

The best thing he can do now is work at improving his marksmanship skills. Once he can actually shoot them himself without calling for backup then he can work on his shoveling and shutting up skills.

It's people's own incompetence that lands stories like this in the media.

Seriously??

I think it was handled properly, now no "neighbors" are going to report him for killing a harmless kitty.

 

[dutchhunter]

Without a season to hunt them.thy do loose there fear of men and dogs.. mayby Thy need a limited hunting season

 

[canadian hunter312]

Forget about the dogs, he already has a donkey.

The best thing he can do now is work at improving his marksmanship skills. Once he can actually shoot them himself without calling for backup then he can work on his shoveling and shutting up skills.

It's people's own incompetence that lands stories like this in the media.

Improving his marksmanship skills? For all you know he could be a better shot than anyone on CGN. This isn't target shooting or hunting. Thing's are just a tad different when you're scrambling to get the gun and get a few shots off without damaging your property or hitting livestock while the cougars are on the run. Calling the CO's was a wise decision in this case.

Gotta love the armchair warriors who could hit a running mouse at 2000 yards with a 22lr

 

[jiffx2781]

Seriously??

I think it was handled properly, now no "neighbors" are going to report him for killing a harmless kitty.

Yes. Seriously.

Do you honestly think that the farmer has to justify to his neighbors a perfectly legal killing of a problematic kitty? Please FO! You obviously have no clue about the legal protection of livestock.

Let the neighbours report it. See how long it takes for them to get put in their place.

As a farmer he has the legal RIGHT to shoot problematic wildlife. No legal obligation to report it to anyone. Shoot, shovel and shut up. Now all he has to do is learn to shoot.

If he had the competence to handle the situation properly, on his own, this wouldn't even be a story.

I shoot to protect my livestock on a regular basis. There is absolutely NO reason for LEGALLY killed nuisance wildlife like these cats to make headlines.

If anyone doesn't like this they can all go back to Snowflakeville where they can all live happily ever after.

This whole thing is a non-story.

 

[jiffx2781]

Improving his marksmanship skills? For all you know he could be a better shot than anyone on CGN. This isn't target shooting or hunting. Thing's are just a tad different when you're scrambling to get the gun and get a few shots off without damaging your property or hitting livestock while the cougars are on the run. Calling the CO's was a wise decision in this case.

Gotta love the armchair warriors who could hit a running mouse at 2000 yards with a 22lr

Lol. Come out to my farm and see if you can keep up with me. I'm not the guy who you need to explain what predator control situations are like.

 

[5440fight]

Gotta love the armchair warriors who could hit a running mouse at 2000 yards with a 22lr

Best caliber for mouse debate in 3...2...
I like to place my sights just in front of the shoulder of the mouse, to allow for enough lead, and use icing sugar to test the wind. If I'm stalking, I track them using a jewelers loop, and roll in their droppings to hide my scent. I had to sit still in a hide for 5 minutes once, but seeing as that's 6 months in mouse years, it may have been a record. I hung his carcass with dental floss while I processed the meat with a pair of nail clippers. Still some left in the freezer if anyone is interested...

 

[MD]

Without a season to hunt them.thy do loose there fear of men and dogs.. mayby Thy need a limited hunting season

What you ####ing talking about?

The season runs September 10 to June 15 with a bag limit of two.

There are so many on the Island that you just get some fearless ones.

I think they killed a duo up in Fort Rupert near Port Hardy last year too.

A couple fearless juvenile cats.

 

[Thomas D'Arcy McGee]

Yes. Seriously.

Do you honestly think that the farmer has to justify to his neighbors a perfectly legal killing of a problematic kitty? Please FO! You obviously have no clue about the legal protection of livestock.

Let the neighbours report it. See how long it takes for them to get put in their place.

As a farmer he has the legal RIGHT to shoot problematic wildlife. No legal obligation to report it to anyone. Shoot, shovel and shut up. Now all he has to do is learn to shoot.

If he had the competence to handle the situation properly, on his own, this wouldn't even be a story.

I shoot to protect my livestock on a regular basis. There is absolutely NO reason for LEGALLY killed nuisance wildlife like these cats to make headlines.

If anyone doesn't like this they can all go back to Snowflakeville where they can all live happily ever after.

This whole thing is a non-story.

Hi, what type of predator(s) are you experiencing?

 

[pete dobinson]

Those cougars were shot not far from my place. I heard the shots. There has been a few cougars in the area over the years. One was at my house a few years back.