The B.C. government’s environment protection page on cougars provides guidelines if you encounter a cougar, including staying calm, keep the cougar in view and pick up children immediately. Officials say noise and movements may provoke an attack. If a cougar shows interest or follows, you should respond aggressively by maintaining eye contact, show your teeth and make loud noise and pick up rocks or a stick as a weapon.

West Shore RCMP is asking everyone to keep your eyes open after receiving multiple reports of cougar sightings since Wednesday. Police say four complaints regarding cougar sightings came in the area of Esquimalt Lagoon and Royal Roads forest yesterday, and another report was called Thursday morning. “We have advised our friends over at Conservation about this as well as the School District and Royal Roads University,” West Shore RCMP Cst. Nancy Saggar said in a release Thursday. “We would like everyone to be aware of the sightings and keep your eyes open when out and about. If you see a cougar you can report it to Conservation. There have been no reports of stalking or attacks”The B.C. Conservation Service hotline is 1-877-952-7277.