Sask Environment Defends Cougar Shooting in Saskatoon
Officers could not get clear shot with tranquilizer rifle
Saskatchewan Environment’s Gary Provencher says conservation officers had no choice but to shoot and kill the cougar.
Saskatoon Police got a call at around 10:30 Tuesday morning of a cougar sighting in a residential neighbourhood in the city’s west side. Provencher says their original plan was to tranquilize the animal. But he the cat was underneath a tree, and officers could not get a clean shot. Plus Provencher adds the tranquilizer darts don't always work.
“Some animals respond differently, they can get up and…they have a reaction...kind of a self defence mechanism to being shot with a dart.”
Plus the cougar was in a residential area. So the decision was made to shoot and kill the animal. Provencher says cougar sightings are rare in
He says there are 20 to 25 reported cougar sightings in
The cougar was wearing a radio collar. Provencher says it was put on by scientists at South Dakota State University. He says the last reading from the GPS system came from Black Hills South Dakota back in April 1st, 2008. That's roughly 1000 kilometres away.
Comments
Federal election
I have been listening to the t.v. all day and have been hearing repeatedly how each of the leaders are attacking Mr. Harper, his integrity, his personality, his past decisions, his government policy and performance. What is interesting is that I have not heard once, what each of them would do if they were in his shoes, I have not heard one positive comment out of any of their mouths. It's a pretty sad situation when the only thing they can come up with is to attack a good man instead of focusing on what they would do for this country if they were elected.
Waiting not an option?
If the cougar wasn't in a good position for the tranquilizer, couldn't officers have waited until it was in a better position? Or was the cougar's life not worth waiting a few hours? I think we need more details of how long this whole episode lasted in order to know if they really did everything they could to save this cougar's life.
I am very confused. If you
I am very confused. If you cannot get a clear shot with a tranquilizer gun they how would you with a normal gun. To me if you don't have a clear shot you don't have a clear shot. To me it seems total wrong to shot and kill a animal that is in the city unless it causing imediaty danger to the public. From what I understand there was no danger to anyone. Who knows how long the animal had been in the city so that tells me it was more then 5 mins. Why not try a tranquilizer dart and if I does go "Crazy" then shot an kill it. One more question is the animal was still alive when it was shot was it taken to a vet or to the zoo to see if it could of been saved. I doubt it seeing it was shot and killed in cold blood. We need a better plan for wild animals in the city so they are not shoot in the street and can be returned to wild. Animals get lost, lets help them find there way home.
You inspired me with your comment.
You said:
Animals get lost, lets help them find there way home.
I say:
Beautiful thought, you must be a loving person. Reading that sentence took some of the anger out of me about the murder of a magnificent creature.
We need to help all the lost ones, love heals.
Regards,
cougar sighting
if there is 20 to 25 sightings reported every year, then why didn't they have any nets?
couldn't they have cleared the area so that they could use the tranquilizer guns?
is there a protocol for dealing with cougars within city limits?
Cougar Shooting
I was just wondering if they could get a clear enough shoot to kill the cougar why could they not have shot it with a tranqualizer and had another officer poised to shoot if the animal reacted. Professionals trained to fire a gun must be able to hit the target from several directions at once if desired. We have lost the value of life.
Animal Lover
Though an avid animal lover, I support fully the decision to shoot to kill as opposed to tranquilizing. Cougars are among some of the only animals who consider humans good eating and I'm sure that it was only a matter of time before someone's child went missing as a direct result of the cat. If there had been any safe and certain way to make sure that the animal was removed from the city and relocated in an appropriate area I am sure it would have been taken. It is sad that it had to end this way but probably for the best.
OK cougars rarely predate on
OK cougars rarely predate on humans so how can you assume it would eventually eat a child.
An avid animal lover? I don't think so.
Perhaps you love those cuddly, domesticated, obedient pets of yours - but an animal lover you are not.
I wonder if you even love your own animals when they get sick, or do you turn them in to a shelter and find a new pet to cherish.
Kindly provide your research to support your claim of cougars finding us tasty. I would sure like to read it.
Regards,
cougar killing
I feel Mr Provencher should be fired on the spot. The animal was not acting in attack mode. Disgusting and if this is the judgement he has as a conservation officer he needs to be released of his duties.
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