Did you know that letting your dog chase after wildlife can cause injury, severe stress, exhaustion and death for the animal being pursued? There is also a danger that the wild animal being chased may run onto a road and cause a serious accident or bring the wild animal towards you. 

All the beautiful birds that left us last fall to head south for the winter have started arriving back on Anarchist Mountain. You’ve probably already heard robins singing from the treetops, and observed the flitting of little brown and grey jobbies bee-bopping from branch to branch as they sort out where to set up shop or find food as they continue further north.

It’s likely that most of us who live on Anarchist Mountain have never seen a cougar in the wild or encountered its tracks when out and about exploring our surroundings.

Cougars are the second largest wild cat in the world (the jaguar is the largest), with adults ranging in length from 42 to 54 inches. Adult males can weigh up to 200 pounds, and adult females up to 120 pounds. They are light brown in colour, have a somewhat compact head and a long (up to three feet), thick tail with a black tip at the end. Males typically live 10 to 12 years, with females living a few years longer. 

 Well, it looks like Mother Nature has thrown us another curveball, leaving us to think we were being blessed with an early spring. Uh, nope. 

As we’re out enjoying our yards and the backcountry trails, remember to ALWAYS be prepared for wildlife encounters.   

While Mother Nature took her time to bring winter to our door, it’s arrived like a snowball to the face. And with it comes the magic of white. 

When you look outside, the world may seem quiet and you may think our wildlife neighbours – both winged and four-footed – are hiding from the cold. But you just need to look closely at the snow to see evidence of the wonderful critters that are out and about in search of food and shelter. 

One of the most enjoyable things about living on Anarchist Mountain for many of us is getting to see all kinds of wildlife. Whether its on our properties, in the backcountry or when driving up and down the mountain. 

Did you know that the southern interior has the highest number of wildlife collisions in the entire province and that over 50,000 animals are killed by vehicles every year (wildlifecollisions.ca). A staggering and heartbreaking statistic.