More Pumas sightings in the sea region to the sky of BC have led the trail closures in the municipality of the Whistler resort and in the area of Lake Garibaldi.
After a Pumas sighting went viral less than two weeks ago, which led to the popular Escobvas path near Lake Garibaldi to close, aggressive pumas sightings have been reported at the Whistler ski resort.
The sightings, which occurred on Thursday and Friday, have led to the closures of the promotion hiking route and all the paths for cycling in Blackcomomb Mountain until again notice.
The Singing Pass Trail area of the Garibaldi Park in Whistler was also closed on Wednesday night due to the aggressive Cougars.
In a video posted on Tiktok, Max Stobbe and his hiking partner, Margaux Cohen, they meet a puma near the popular trail of Garibaldi Lake in the sea region A sky of BC. Since then, BC Parks has closed the Rubble Creek path for a week due to Cougars’s “aggressive behavior.”
“The last report follows multiple incidents in the last weeks of two pumas that act aggressively in the Whistler area, including pursuing, harassing and being very close to the cyclists and hikers of the mountain,” said the services of the BC conservation officer on Wednesday in a statement.
“[Conservation officers] They continue monitoring and evaluating the activity of the Puma and will respond as necessary to guarantee public safety. “
Adam Mercer, the senior manager of the skiing patrol in Whistler Blackcomb Resort, said it was not unusual for tourists to meet black bears, marmotes and other wildlife as he came out of walking or riding a bike along the trails.
“I’ve been here for decades, and we see Cougars travel through the area,” he said. “And then I would not say that it is unusual, but it is not as common as the encounters with the bear.”
Cougars that is observed regularly is rare, according to Julie Thomas, a doctoral student from the University of North BC who studies Cougar Ecology.
“The Coupars are certainly there, but they are incredibly elusive and shy with people,” he said.
Thomas said he has some theories about why people are seeing more pumas in the sea region to heaven, including human invasion in the natural habitats of predators.
He also says that Cougars can be young and still try to establish a new territory for themselves, and they could still be discovering what is prey and what not.
“They could have this type of short altercations with people … where they are only humans,” he said.
“The other possibility is that the puma … be sick, hungry or injured,” he added.
Conservation officers are asking people traveling in groups while in the field to be sure and have bear spray if possible.
They also say that people should not make sudden movements if they meet a puma, and that they should get strong and slowly go back if they see one.
In the case of an attack, people who defend themselves focusing on the face and eyes of the puma are advised.
“Use rocks, sticks, bear spray or personal belongings such as weapons,” says the declaration of the officers. “You are trying to convince the Puma that you are a threat and you are not prey.”
