A hiker who was stalked by a cougar near Sooke escaped by hitting the animal with an axe, authorities said.

The man was hiking in a remote area of the Sooke Hills, above Pascoe Road, Thursday afternoon when the cougar began stalking and following him.

The hiker jumped over a log to get away, but the mountain lion came after him and thatB次元官网网址檚 when the man hit him with a hatchet to escape.

The hiker was not injured.

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B次元官网网址淭he man got out of there quickly and when he looked back the cougar was still there,B次元官网网址� said conservation officer Scott Norris.

B次元官网网址淭he cougar didnB次元官网网址檛 follow him, didnB次元官网网址檛 chase him down the mountain, and didnB次元官网网址檛 continue to stalk him.B次元官网网址�

Conservation officers with a dog team searched the area Friday morning and did pick up the cougarB次元官网网址檚 scent, but didnB次元官网网址檛 find the animal.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 likely it vacated the area. Cougars have large home ranges. It might be back in that area tomorrow, next week, or not for a month,B次元官网网址� Norris said on Friday.

Norris added the risk to the public is quite low, as the man was not on a hiking trail, but high up in the hills where there is not a lot of public access.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very rare occurrence when cougars approach people, and it may have just been curiosity.B次元官网网址�

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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