On October 2nd, 2015 at 0809 hrs the Oak Bay Police Department received two apparently credible reports of a cougar in the backyards of residences in the 800 block of Linkleas Ave and Byng St’s. Police and a Conservation Officer searched the area but did not locate an animal.

This is the fourth similar call in the past few days in the south end of Oak Bay. The Conservation Officer advises that this is likely a nocturnal animal (all other calls have been early mornings or evenings, low light conditions) that will avoid human contact during the day. However, parents are advised to have their children walk in small groups, staying on well-travelled public sidewalks, avoiding wooded trails or cut-through’s, and pets should be kept close at hand. Any further sightings should be reported to the police.