Late summer is a time when orchards are full of ripening fruits and a time when wildlife is beginning to build up their fat reserves for hibernation in the coming winter months.
This is also a time when is an increase in the number of sightings and confrontations between humans and large mammals that can present a danger and certainly they can become a nuisance. This year has seen an increase in calls to Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) requesting help in rescuing fledging birds and baby mammals.
In the last few weeks the center has received or rescued five eaglets that appeared to have either fledged or were pushed from the nest. The reason why these birds left the nest prematurely is not clear but it seems that more people are aware and watching the eagle trees and nests and in some cases are providing food for the eaglets on the ground. Usually, if a young eaglet falls or is pushed out of the nest, the parents will feed them on the ground, but if the adults are interrupted by humans or the brush is too dense, they will often abandon the young.
Feeding wildlife either in backyards or in their natural habitat appears to be causing some concern, it is also against the Wildlife Acts. If we leave nature to its own balance it will naturally cull weak or sick birds and animals but by feeding wildlife we are interrupting this natural process. Another area that reflects this change of natures balance is seen in the decline of one species and the increase in another. A perfect example of this seems to be the smaller numbers of fawns this year and the emergence of more cougars.
In the next several weeks the large mammals, bears and cougars will be out foraging on fruit and small mammals and there are sure to be encounters with wildlife and humans. Black bears are mainly vegetarian eating fruits and berries but also dine on salmon.
Cougars are meat eaters mainly dining on deer, rabbits and racoons but will also eat sheep or other young farm animals.
Bears are very resourceful and surprisingly agile climbers and are readily attracted to garbage cans. Large clawed front feet enable them to pry off lids and doors following their acute sense of smell to locate the food source.
To prevent bears becoming a nuisance which will often require them to be trapped and relocated or sadly destroyed, we urge homeowners to make sure all food is safely stored and garbage cans firmly shut with a bear proof lid.
Cougars are solitary, elusive and mysterious creatures that command a large territory. Unlike the bears, cougars stalk their prey before attacking or, being proficient climbers, they will wait up in the tree and ambush the unsuspecting prey jumping down from a height of up to 60 feet. Urban areas are continuing to grow in both the Comox Valley and Campbell River. This means that the local wildlife populations are also being squeezed into smaller spaces providing easy hunting grounds for the predators. Each year the B.C. and national environmental agencies put out guidelines on how to protect against a bear or cougar attack.
Do not let children walk alone in wooded areas, both animals seem to be attracted to their small size and erratic movement. Supervise outside play in back yards.
Do not feed deer or other wildlife that will attract the cougar. Take down bird feeders, deer and bears will also come to dine!
Keep dogs on a leash when out on trails they can attract both animals.
Never approach a bear or a cougar, always give them an escape route.
Stay calm, talk in a loud confident voice, pick up children and small dogs.
Do not turn your back on the animal or run, back away slowly make yourself appear as big as you can.
Carrying walking poles or a large stick can deter an attack, people who fight back have survived bear and cougar attacks. Make lots of noise when you are walking to alert wildlife to your presence.