Officers from Saanich Police and Oak Bay Police converged upon the Camosun College Lansdowne campus after a cougar was spotted early this morning (Oct. 9).
Shortly after 1 a.m., a member of the security staff saw the cougar in the north parking lot of the campus near Foul Bay Road and watched it walk into a treed.
It was not observed by police, and there were no further reported sightings.
"The animal in question appeared healthy and had no obvious injuries" said Sgt. Steve Eassie of the Saanich Police. "It did not show any signs of aggression or predatory behaviour while being observed, and was likely wandering from green space to green space in search of food."
While conservation officers believed a cougar recently tranquilized and removed from the James Bay area may have been the same cougar reported in Oak Bay recently, there have since been two unconfirmed cougar sightings in south Oak Bay.
"While observing these animals in urban areas is somewhat rare, such was the case in James Bay during daylight hours, it would not be uncommon for these animals to be present in large green spaces, especially in the evening hours." Eassie said.
Owners of small pets are reminded that cougars generally move around in the evening hours and that it would be suggested to keep animals inside throughout the evening.
The BC Conservation Officer Service has been notified of the sighting.