Pet owners living on or visiting the Pacific Rim are being urged to keep their dogs and cats secured after a wolf was spotted in Ucluelet last week.
Andrew Riddell of the Conservation Officer Service said the COS has received reports of wolf sightings and is monitoring the situation, but does not believe the animal is a threat to public safety.
B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 gotten any information that would cause any kind of concern for the residents in Ucluelet,B次元官网网址� he told the Westerly B次元官网网址, adding the COS has B次元官网网址渮ero intentionB次元官网网址� of euthanizing or relocating the wolf based on its reported behaviour so far.
He added, though, that pets should not be left outdoors unattended.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always best practice and safe practice to keep your pets on leashes,B次元官网网址� he said.
Carla Anderson of Ocean Pet Supplies told the Westerly that pet owners must be extra vigilant when wolf activity is being reported.
B次元官网网址淚f thereB次元官网网址檚 a wolf sighting in town like this, I donB次元官网网址檛 let my cat out. SheB次元官网网址檚 inside 24/7, much to her disgustB次元官网网址he can suck it up and just stay inside,B次元官网网址� Anderson said.
B次元官网网址淜eep your dog on a leash when youB次元官网网址檙e in conspicuous areas like trails and things like that. Check behind you when youB次元官网网址檙e walking and just be aware of your surroundings. DonB次元官网网址檛 let them [dogs or cats] free-roam.B次元官网网址�
Riddell said anyone who spots a wolf in the community should immediately report their sighting to the COS at 1-877-952-7277. He said many residents are posting about their wolf sightings on Facebook, but arenB次元官网网址檛 taking the important step of calling conservation officers as well.
B次元官网网址淧eople do talk on social media and thatB次元官网网址檚 great that theyB次元官网网址檙e warning each other, but it would also be nice if, at the same time, they took a little bit of time just to give us a call and make that report so we can track the wolf,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of work is going on into researching wolf activity and behaviour on the West Coast. We want to know if theyB次元官网网址檙e coming further into town or more frequently into town or if theyB次元官网网址檙e having more interactions with people on trails and on beaches.B次元官网网址�
Anderson said that if the COS does not receive reports of a wolf in time, they might not be able to haze the animal out before it becomes habituated and comfortable enough around humans to pose a threat.
B次元官网网址淭he importance of reporting sightings and encounters to the COS is so that when the animal makes that switch from a sighting, which is normal behaviour, to an encounter, which is the start of habituation, the conservation officers can step in and haze that animal and keep it safe,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢y motto is: B次元官网网址楬aze them to save them.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
Like us on and follow us on
