Saturday 1 June 2013

Man fights off cougar with skateboard; Parks Canada tracking animal

The Canadian Press 
Published Sunday, May 26, 2013 8:24PM EDT 
Last Updated Sunday, May 26, 2013 9:35PM EDT

BANFF, Alta. -- Parks Canada officials are advising people in Banff to be on alert after a man told them he fought off an attacking cougar with his skateboard.

Bill Hunt, the resource conservation manager for the Banff field unit, said the man was attacked Thursday and originally reported the incident anonymously.

But Hunt said officials tracked him down to get more information in order to find the cougar.

"I think he was reluctant to contact us right away because he'd be in trouble for striking an animal inside a national park. But of course, in that situation you're in defence mode and it's totally appropriate," Hunt explained Sunday.

Hunt said the man told them he was listening to music through earbuds while walking between the townsite and an industrial area when the cougar attacked.

"He was hit from behind, knocked to the ground and instantly reacted properly. With a cougar, the correct thing to do is fight back hard and convince that cougar that you're not going to be available for prey," Hunt said.


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