Separate cougar attacks in which two children were injured are among the human-wildlife encounters described in ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 seasonal update from the BC Conservation Officer Service.

A cougar attacked a nine-year-old boy as he was playing in a creek with two other children on Aug. 12 near Christina Lake in the West Kootenay, deputy chief Chris Doyle said in a phone call with the media on Thursday.

The boy received minor injuries.

The conservation officers deployed tracking hounds, but the cougar managed to evade them in the steep terrain and hot weather.

Four days later, a four-year-old boy in the Lower Morrissey Creek area, west of Fernie in the East Kootenay, while fishing with his family.

The father kicked the cougar off the son and threw rocks at it, Doyle said, but the animal continued to stalk the family as they retreated to their car. The boy was treated in hospital.

Again, the conservation officer sent out tracking hounds and set up traps, but were unable to find the cougar.

Radium Resort had to pay a total fine of $200,000 for violations under the Environmental Management Act, after staff had in February 2016 that in turn set fire to demolition waste from the Radium Resort Hotel.

The fire sent smoke and odour through the community of Radium Hot Springs, even promoting an air quality advisory from Interior Health. It took crews days to extinguish the flames.

The company pleaded guilty earlier this month in provincial court in Invermere.

On Vancouver Island, a dog walker was B次元官网网址渞un overB次元官网网址� by a bear when the animal got into a scuffle with an off-leash dog at Matheson Park in Metchosin near Victoria.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the dog walkers was caught in the middle, receiving minor injuries,B次元官网网址� Doyle said.

B次元官网网址淢any conflicts with bears are caused by off-leash dogs, so weB次元官网网址檙e reminding owners to control their pets, especially when in bear country.B次元官网网址�

A Great Blue Heron, which is protected under both provincial and federal legislation, was recently shot in Vancouver. ItB次元官网网址檚 also illegal to discharge a firearm within the Vancouver city limits. The investigation continues.

And in Mission, the driver of a Jeep for causing damage to the environment after she B次元官网网址渄eliberatelyB次元官网网址� drove into the foreshore of Stave Lake. All drivers of ATVs and other 4&4 vehicles are reminded to stick to marked trails.

Long weekend reminder

Bears will be getting hungry heading into the fall, Doyle said, and looking to pack on as many pounds as possible before hibernation.

He reminded the public to remove or block any bear attractants, such as unpicked tree fruit or, if youB次元官网网址檙e out camping, any food or garbage. You could be charged if youB次元官网网址檙e found to have been negligently storing attractants, he said.

laura.baziuk@bpdigital.ca
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