Cougar found dead on Canmore trail, Calgary

Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald 

Published on: December 21, 2014

A file photo of a cougar scavenging for food in the Canmore area.
Glenn Naylor, Alberta Park / For the Calgary Herald

A dead cougar was found east of Peaks of Grassi in Canmore late last week, prompting officials to remind people that the big cats are back in town.
On Friday, conservation officers were called about the cougar.

“‘We had a call this morning from someone who found a dead cougar below the Highline Trail,” Glenn Naylor, district conservation officer for Kananaskis, said in an email Friday. “We went out this afternoon and found it.

“Looks like it was probably killed by another cougar.”

It also led to a warning on Facebook from Bow Valley WildSmart.

“As winter arrives, the prey species for cougars descend back into the valley bottoms and the cats spend much more time here,” said the posting. “Once November rolls around, it’s typically the time that we have a higher chance of cougar/dog encounters.

“Even though we may not have cougar sightings or incidents, it doesn’t mean they are not here.”

They remind people in and around the Bow Valley that cougars are mostly active at night, but are opportunistic so will take down prey at any time.

Carry bear spray and a walking stick or ski pole, keep dogs on a leash and look behind you every once in awhile if you are out on the trails around town.

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