By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Feb. 4, 2012.
There were approximately 2,000 human-wildlife conflicts in the Sea to Sky region last year, according to conservation officer Chris Doyle.
“This is about the average number for conflicts in this region every year,” he said.
Although information about the exact number of human-wildlife conflicts in Squamish couldn’t be ascertained from the data, Insp. Chris Doyle said bear conflicts topped the list.
Last summer, however, cougar sightings and conflicts were unusually high, he said.
In fact, Squamish reported the highest number of cougar sightings in British Columbia, said Insp. Doyle.
There were more than 50 cougar sightings reported, Doyle said.
In September last year, the conservation officer had to kill three cougars that had become habituated to Squamish.
“Last year was not a normal year as far as cougar sightings are concerned,” Doyle said.
The big investigation for the year was a grizzly bear poaching in Pemberton.
The 364-kilo male grizzly was found the Lillooet Forest Service Road on Nov. 17, with “what appeared to be bullet holes in it.”
The conservation office identified the suspect and an investigation is ongoing.
The conservation office also booked people for illegal fishing along Mamquam Road, illegal discharge of fire arms, carrying loaded fire arms in car.
Insp. Doyle said although there haven’t been any major reported human-animal conflicts, residents should still be aware.
“We still have cougars around, and soon we will see bears too,” he said.
