B.C. Conservation Officer ServiceA man working in Smithers, a town in British Colombia, was suddenly attacked by a cougar. Though he was injured in the attack, he managed to survive and scare the animal off by literally punching it in the face.
Smithers is a very small town, a place with a population barely above 5,000. It’s most certainly off the beaten path.
Small towns like this leave residents at much higher risk for animal attacks. A lack of technology and general civilization makes animals a lot more adventurous and creates the risk of accidentally stepping into the wrong territory.
However, one man was suddenly attacked by a cougar while working, resulting in a full investigation by conservation officers.
Canada man survives cougar attack
The B.C. Conservation Office revealed the nature of the attack as part of an ongoing investigation. He was approached by the animal before it decided to attack him.
“At approx 11 am, the man was working in the Lake Kathlyn area when a cougar approached him and swiped his upper body,” reads a Facebook post by the B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service. “The man, who was interviewed by CO’s, told them he punched the cougar in the face and it disengaged.”
His injuries not only weren’t threatening, he didn’t require hospitalization at all. Just a few scratches.
B.C. Conservation Officer ServiceA live trap has been deployed, but the cougar completely fled the area according to conservation officers.
“CO’s responded to the area but no cougar was seen. A live trap was deployed in the area. CO’s attended the area again this morning with hounds but no cougar was located.”
On the very same day, there was another couple biking in the mountains that wasn’t so lucky. They were attacked by two grizzly bears and only managed to survive because they had bear spray on them.
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Unlike the cougar, officers ruled that the attack was defensive. They have no plans to pursue the bears and have merely updated signs in the area to make sure no hikers accidentally encroach on their territory. B.C. locals are concerned by the increase in activity from wildlife in the area.