Cougar activity

The District of Squamish is reminding residents to be aware and alert and to keep an eye on small children and pets.

For more information about cougars, please visit the Conservation Officer Service website at:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/info/wildlife_human_interaction/docs/cougars.html

To report wildlife sightings and/or encounters, call the 24/7 Conservation Officer Hotline at 1-877-952-7277 or #7277 on your cell phone.

Ironman Canada

It was a 'hot' day for those who raced in Penticton including our own Derek Gagne who set a PB at his second Ironman.

Derek clocked a superb bike split at his second consecutive M-Dot in the Okanagan, and he's already signed up for next year.

Century Ride

Congrats to all who made it out to the Century ride and for all the work by Sara and Louie to help organize the event as well as weekend rides through summer.

The Gran Fondo is now weeks away.

If you encounter a cougar ...

COUGAR ENCOUNTERS

• The following are guidelines in the event that you do encounter a cougar:
  • Stay calm and keep the cougar in view.  Pick up children immediately - children frighten easily, the noise and movements they make could provoke an attack.  Back away slowly, ensuring that the animal has a clear avenue of escape.  Make yourself look as large as possible.  Keep the cougar in front of you at all times.
• Never run or turn your back on a cougar.  Sudden movement may provoke an attack.
• If a cougar shows interest or follows you, respond aggressively.  Maintain eye contact with the cougar, show your teeth and make loud noise.  Arm yourself with rocks or sticks as weapons.  Crouch down as little as possible when bending down to pick up things off of the ground.
• If a cougar attacks, fight back.  Convince the cougar you are a threat and not prey.  Use anything you can as a weapon.  Focus your attack on the cougar's face and eyes.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/info/wildlife_human_interaction/docs/cougars.html

Be aware on the trails

*This is from the District:

Effective Immediately

The following trails are CLOSED until FURTHER notice

Jacks Trail
Mike's Loop
Credit Line
Entrails
Marc my Word
Value Added
Wonderland

These trails are being closed due to an aggressive cougar in the area.

Conservation Officers are working on this issue in partnership with BC Parks

Please obey all closures.

For information on cougar safety please follow this link:

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/info/
wildlife_human_interaction/docs/cougars.html

Sooke Half Ironman

A superb day for a superb event. Definitely a challenging bike course but very cool that the highway between Sooke and Port Renfrew was closed for the race.

Second place age group finishes for Jenni Chancey and Tim Moore.

Kits 1.5km Open Water Swim

First in her age group, Kathryn Fox.

http://vowsa.bc.ca/

Loggers' Day 10k

From the Chief:

This year’s winners of the Slavo Lehockey Memorial Trophy, given to the local runners with the fastest times, were Jody Parry for the males and Margreet Dietz for the females. Parry finished 30th overall, with a time of 40:00, while Dietz finished the race in 40:14, good for seventh among all females.

Other notable local times included Gord Addison (41st overall), John Redpath (45th overall) and Ross Young (46th overall). Heather Sidsworth also had a nice run, as she was the only female competing in the 60 to 64 division and finished the race in 1:01:43.

 

A total of 223 racers competed in the event, an increase over the 175 that competed at last year’s race. The Squamish Days 10K is the second-to-last race in the Lower Mainland road race series. Racers will next travel to the Richmond Olympic Oval for the final race of the series on Aug. 14.