BURST
B.C. conservation officers are warning the public to avoid a trail near Squamish after a mountain biker was attacked by a cougar this week in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Squamish.
In a social media post Friday, the Conservation Officer Service said at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, a man was mountain biking in the Alpine Capone area along Brohm Ridge when a cougar “made contact” and pursued him down the trail for about 20 minutes.
The man suffered minor injuries in the attack, according to the service. The man, who was walking backwards holding his bike, escaped after throwing rocks at the cat.
Conservation officers are advising the public to avoid the area at this time. They are working with local government and the mountain biking and outdoor associations to ensure they are informed of the attack.
The attack site is near Garibaldi Provincial Park, where aggressive cougar activity led to trail closures earlier this summer.
Two hikers, Ashley Thompson and Damien Bernard, were stalked by two large cougars , in what they both described as a horrifying experience.
Thompson and Bernard were among several hikers who reported being stalked by cougars last month, prompting closure of the Rubble Creek trail, and the evacuation of the Garibaldi Lake and Taylor Meadows campsites.
At this time, conservation officers are unable to confirm if this most recent attack is linked to one of the cougars involved in previous stalking reports.
People are asked to take precautions before heading out onto B.C. trails, including travelling in groups, making noise, leashing pets and carrying bear spray.
Cougars are most common in the southern parts of the province, including around Vancouver, Vancouver Island and forested areas near urban centres. The animals prefer remote, rugged terrain, but will occasionally pass through more populated areas, especially if following prey.
Experts say they are typically afraid of people and will usually move away if people make noise.
With a file from Sarah Grochowski