Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 25, 2008

Tulita/Tsiigehtchic Officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said they have received two reports of cougar sightings in the past month: one south of Tulita and another near Tsiigehtchic.

A Tulita resident reported seeing a cougar swimming at the mouth of the Blackwater River, between Tulita and Wrigley, according to Tulita Renewable Resources officer Ron Doctor.

"A local resident was coming back from Wrigley on his way to Tulita on (July 16) at about 9:30 a.m. he was around Blackwater River. He saw an animal swimming across and at first he thought it was a lynx but as he got closer he realized it was a cougar," said Doctor.

The animal was swimming towards the north shore of the river, heading towards Tulita.

The resident reported the sighting once he got into Tulita. Without a photo, it will remain classified as a "possible" sighting. A photo is required for a confirmed sighting.

"I asked him if he was sure it wasn't a bear, a wolf, or a fox and he said, 'nope, it was a cougar," said Doctor.

He forwarded the sighting report to a biologist in Norman Wells.

"It is interesting because this is the first sighting I've heard of this far north, at least in our area," said Doctor.

He has been on the job for five years and this is the first report he has received.

The second sighting happened near the Tsiigehtchic ferry crossing. Officials from ENR were unable to provide the exact date of the sighting, but it took place several weeks ago.

Inuvik Renewable Resources Officer Ron Morrison said Aklavik resident Billy Storr possibly spotted the cougar while driving.

"It's an unconfirmed sighting. Billy is a graduate of the Natural Resources Technician Program. There were eight people in the vehicle when he saw it. It was very reliable but it is still unconfirmed," said Morrison.

He said sightings are not unusual, but he has never had one officially confirmed.

"I've been here 13 years. We've had reports of cougars ever since I've been here, mostly out of Aklavik. All of the sightings, when we've gone out and looked, we haven't seen any tracks," said Morrison.

He said the latest reports coming from south of Aklavik are a bit more unusual.

His department has put fact sheets up in Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic explaining how people can identify tracks and what they should do if they encounter a cougar in the wild.