Residents are being asked to be on the lookout after at least two large wolves were spotted several times near Lake Cowichan on March 25.
Denis Martel, the wilderness watch coordinator with the Valley Fish and Game Club, said a big black wolf, which he described as an alpha male, was spotted several times along a three-mile stretch on the Old Cowichan Lake Road Saturday afternoon.
He said the last sightings were just before dark in the 5900 block of Mayo Road, and another wolf, described as large and grey, was seen at the same time.
“There was a minimum of two wolves which are likely from the same pack that we figure were just passing through the area and, judging from their direction at the time, they were heading in the direction of Sahtlam,” Martel said.
“There are reports of a cat and goose missing from a hobby farm near where they were last seen, although we aren’t sure if that has any connection to these wolves.”
Martel said residents with children, pets and/or farm animals should be aware that the wolves may still be in the area and to act accordingly.
He said wolves rarely attack humans, but if confronted with one or more wolves, people should face them, shout at them and make themselves look as big as they can.
“Keep eye contact and back up slowly, but don’t turn around and run,” Martel said.
Parks Canada lifted a dog ban on March 27 that was put in place after a wolf attacked a pet near a Tofino beach last week, on Vancouver Island’s west coast.
The ban was put in place March 23 after a wolf attacked and injured a leashed dog near Wickaninnish Beach, following a spike in wolf sightings and close encounters in the area.