Brenda Lee is used to seeing plenty of wildlife in her neighbourhood, as Eagle Creek runs behind her house and all manner of animals travel down it to Burnaby Lake – but a recent encounter with a bobcat caught her by surprise. She told CTV News she was out gardening in her backyard Sunday when the usual warning signal went off. “When a predator is around the crows go crazy. When you hear that you know something’s out there,” she said. Sure enough, Lee spotted a big bobcat with something in its mouth go around the side of her neighbour’s house. Thinking of their house cat, she called the neighbours to warn them about the wild feline. “They didn’t answer the phone, so I walked down,” Lee recalls. “I didn’t see it until I was almost on top of it.” The bobcat was about 10 feet away, much closer than Lee would normally get. It looked back at her, but didn’t growl or hiss. “It didn’t seem too worried,” she said. Lee says she wasn’t concerned about an attack and knew to back away slowly without cornering the animal. The Burnaby resident says she spots bobcats near her house every couple of months, sometimes with kittens, as well as bears and coyotes, and counts herself lucky to live in the region. “It’s amazing what you see,” she said. “You’re in the city and you’ve got all this wildlife around you.” Earlier this month, a Coquitlam resident shared his story of a bobcat encounter in Burnaby Lake Park with CTV News. At the time, WildSafe BC spokesperson Karly McMullen said bobcat sightings are rare especially near cities, as the creatures are highly elusive and people often won’t often notice their presence. “While bobcats usually avoid people, it’s important to stay cautious in wild areas with bushes or thick cover where animals may be hiding,” she said. “Whether it’s a bobcat, cougar, coyote, bear or other B.C. wildlife, you want to avoid surprise encounters.” McMullen advised walkers to be prepared by carrying bear spray – it works on bobcats – avoiding using headphones while walking or running, and staying aware of the surroundings. For those who do find themselves experiencing a bobcat encounter, McMullen recommends staying calm and standing still – do not run. Be sure to maintain eye contact and appear large by raising your arms. Speak loudly and assertively, and back away slowly before leaving the area. Do not turn around, she says. In the instance of an attack, “fight back, and use bear spray,” McMullen said. With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Mina Kerr-Lazenby
