Cougar sightings in Arnprior probed

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is investigating a cluster of possible cougar sightings in a community west of Ottawa.

Margaret Cairns said she saw a cougar in Arnprior, Ont., a town about 60 kilometres west of Ottawa, a few weeks ago.

"There was a long tail wagging very ferociously. Then I saw this large animal jump. And it turned and looked at me," said Cairns, who was driving to work when she spotted the animal near the side of Highway 417.

She slowed down to get a good look, and said she's certain it was a cougar.

Her sighting is one of at least three in the area in recent weeks.

Doug Skeggs, a Pembroke-based information officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources, said the ministry hasn't received any cougar sighting reports from Arnprior directly in recent weeks, and so far they have no evidence to support the alleged sightings.

He added the ministry receives about a dozen reports of cougar sightings in eastern Ontario each year that later prove to be other animals such as deer, dogs, or large housecats. The last confirmed sighting of a cougar in the area was in the 1880s.

However, Skeggs said it is unusual to have so many sightings so close together, and a lack of evidence doesn't mean there aren't cougars around.

"These are incredibly elusive animals," he said.

The ministry has been tracking cougars around the province using paw prints and remote cameras. They've discovered at least 30 cougars in the process, with the closest one roaming near Peterborough, more than 200 kilometres away.