Jan 13 - Wild cougar visits hot tub

Good morning !

For many Islanders, a big part of living here is access to nature—and that often entails sharing the region with wild animals. Today we have two stories about exactly that.

First, an up-close cougar encounter from the past week. Then, a bird's eye view of the many animals (including a bird with one eye) that one major wildlife centre has rehabilitated over the past year.

— Cam

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Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today:⛅ 5 / 2 

Tomorrow: ⛅ 5 / 1

Wednesday: ⛅ 8 / 2

NEWS

Video shows cougar only a metre away from Tofino hot tub

The video by Nuu-chah-nulth woman Natalee Dennis has been seen half a million times on TikTok. Dennis told Global that she and her dad first noticed the housecat acting strangely and heard noises, so they turned on their flashlights and sighted the glowing eyes.

Everyone ended up safe—but you can watch the startling moment below:

@captain.natalee

face to face with a cougar... Tofino BC

These Islanders got off easier than a man in Colorado in 2023, who was attacked and scratched by a cougar while relaxing with his wife in a hot tub at their rental.

Around the same time, a Colwood housecat was killed when a cougar attacked it as it too relaxed on a backyard hot tub—though that tub was covered and not in use.

Island has had a few prominent cougar encounters over past year

One cougar bit Olympic rugby captain Olivia Apps after it attacked her on a dog-walking hike in Strathcona Park. She and her companion bear-sprayed it away, and she recovered in time to lead the Langford-based team to silver. Apps has been away from the team since that Paris glory, but just rejoined it for the Perth Sevens later this month.

Over the summer, Bowen Island had a cougar arrive for what was believed to be the first time in 20 years. As it overstayed its welcome, Islanders were divided on how to handle it.

In Sept. a Sooke schoolkid had a frightening face-off with another cougar on a trail near SEAPARC on her way to Journey Middle School.

There were also, of course, numerous lower-stakes sightings that prompted local warnings. Just last week, there was a cougar spotted near Cadboro-Gyro Park and another whose “aggressive" presence while “guarding its kill" prompted the closure of the popular Ammonite Falls trail near Nanaimo.

So are there really more cougars lately?

These high-profile examples prompted a look at whether (and why) these big cat encounters may be rising.

Per a BC Gov report a year ago, BC province has one of the largest and most intact cougar populations in Canada—with 800-1,100 on the Island alone. But as one of the report authors explains, “cougar-human encounters are very rare given they have a fear of humans and will not risk injury to themselves.”

Rather than cougars becoming more numerous and aggressive, experts say that the reason for more notable encounters recently is largely human expansion into wooded areas (as seen on the Westshore especially). That's felt especially in rural parts of the region, where livestock rather than hikers are the clear targets.

Read the full story on Island cougars, and what to do if you encounter one.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Mostly sun & cloud this week, with full sun possible by weekend.

UVic won 3 of 4 basketball games this weekend vs. Trinity Western

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

1,035 animals helped last year by MARS Wildlife Rescue

Now for some more positive human-wildlife interactions.

The Comox-area animal centre just put out its year-in-review stats and highlights. It saw its veterinary and rehab admissions surge in the summer, with 178 admitted in July alone. There were 155 different species admitted in 2024; the most common were American robins and raccoons. 

The centre recently moved two groups of raccoons from indoor to outdoor pens, where they'll learn to live in the elements. Among those are two “twins” who took in the last baby of the spring/summer season and taught it the ropes.  

Similarly, one of the owls adopted a baby owl and the two were released together. Another owl lost an eye but thrived despite the permanent wink. 

There were 30 bats admitted, representing 7 species. The centre cited the fundraiser for a bat hibernation cooler as a highlight of the year. That fundraiser reached its $2,500 goal within 36 hours, and set up a place for recovering bats to treat over winter. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🥘 The 8 biggest new restaurant openings of the past year. [Tasting Victoria]

🌙 "Stellar...a brilliant piece of theatre you don't want to miss!" Tickets for Anosh Irani's Behind the Moon, are on sale now.*

🐳 A whale tail on the beach, sculpted out of sticks, stones, sand, and more. [Facebook photo]

🚗 Get back on the road. The experienced lawyers at Acumen Law Corporation will give you the best legal support for your driving prohibition case.*

📚 What you've been reading: The most popular library books of 2024 in the GVPL system. [Capital Daily]

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🗞️ In Other News

Saanich extends development permits for unstarted projects
They now have until Jan. 2027 instead of expiring at year's end. Both the proposed McKenzie six-storey's developer and the Torquay five-storey's developer have attributed the delay to interest rates, though the latter also points to an internal ownership dispute. [Times Colonist]

Victoria Royals remain undefeated in 2025
The surging local hockey club is 6-0 in January and hasn't lost a game by any more than a single goal in over two months. At 23-11 (53 points), they're now #4 in the 22-team WHL—but every team ahead of them plays in the same conference, foretelling a tough playoff road.

Teacher union speaks against ‘inflammatory & unnecessary threat’ to boot school board
The GVTA's new full statement says the education minister risks undermining the democratic process and public trust. President Carolyn Howe argued that local police have pushed a “relentless and coordinated campaign” to reinstate liaison officers. The letter also says the SD61 board has made progress on preserving music programs and EAs, and was elected in 2022 partly to protect against an anti-2SLGTBQ+ campaign.
Read Capital Daily's latest on the SPLO standoff.

Excavator tipped over on Salt Spring last Weds.
It got stuck at “an undignified angle” (see photo in link) when the ground partly caved in underneath it during road work. [Gulf Islands Driftwood]

MEC reportedly being sold once again
The outdoor-gear supplier—which has one of downtown Victoria's biggest stores—was once Canada's largest co-op. But after being sold and taken private in 2020, it appears to be in money trouble again and in the process of selling shares. [CityNews]

Car crash takes out a Vic West Street light
Police say that the driver was going the wrong way around 3am Sunday and fled after officers had activated “vehicle emergency equipment.” Driver and passenger had minor injuries, so the Independent Investigations Office has been notified as it is in any incident when police could have contributed to harm or death. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

✒ Last day for letter-writing stations at RBCM. [Info].

🐟 Help throw some dead salmon in the creek: The Salmon Carcass Transplant is held annually by restorationists hoping to help complete the circle of life in a Douglas Creek habitat that has suffered from low salmon returns. Sat. 10am. [Info]

🎼 Monday Music at Heron Rock Bistro featuring jazz & soul today (from Clark Brendon) and country/folk/rock later in the month. [Schedule]

🏒 Victoria Royals host the Wheat Kings on Weds. & the Blazers Fri. & Sat. Friday is the Lunar New Year special event game. [Tickets]

🙋‍♀️ Monday Trivia Nights at Sawmill Taphouse. [Info]

🍴Community dinner hosted by Gordon United Church in Langford today at 5pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Want to continue to get the full Sunday newsletter? Become a Capital Daily Insider to get full access to the expanded weekend email.

BC fire crews head down to California wildfire. [CP]

Someone stole 56 water taps from a community garden—taking hours to unscrew them. [Times Colonist]

Protect these 3 budget items from cuts, ex-mayor Helps publicly advises Victoria council in op-ed.

Hear the new album from local indie band Juniper Smile. [YouTube]

Italian restaurants to check out in Victoria. [Tasting Victoria]

Meet the goats of Beacon Hill in a slideshow video.