A girl had a close encounter with a cougar Friday morning while on her way to school in Sooke.
Ginevra Vanveen, 12, was walking along a pathway between SEAPARC Rec Centre and Journey Middle School when the cougar appeared about six feet in front of her, went into a crouch and started snarling, said the mother of her best friend.
Shawna Anderson said Ginevra had the feeling she was being followed because “she could hear the crunching in the forest.”
Anderson said the girl “just froze” when the big cat appeared so close, looked right into her eyes and went into “pounce mode.”
“She started to cry and just started making some noise by saying ‘oh my god, oh my god,’ ” said Anderson.
“She held up her phone and arms and I think that might have helped scare it away,” added Anderson’s partner, Paul Keene.
The girl texted Anderson and ran to their home a short distance from the encounter.
“She was just sweating and shaking,” said Anderson. “She kept saying I’m lucky to be alive.”
Keene said: “She was hysterical and beyond scared.”
Ginevra’s mother, Melissa Vanveen, said Friday afternoon her daughter was doing OK after the incident. She attended school and spent time with friends afterward.
Vanveen believed it was a younger cougar who had the encounter with her daughter.
Anderson said Journey Middle School had postponed some outdoor activities on Friday.
By all accounts, the Grade 7 student did everything right on the trail.
B.C. Parks advises anyone encountering a cougar not to turn their backs on the animal or run away. You should keep the cougar in view and back away slowly, making yourself look as large as possible.
If the cougar shows intense interest or follows, respond aggressively by maintaining eye contact, making loud noises and even showing your teeth.
If that doesn’t deter the cougar, authorities recommend arming yourself with rocks and sticks. Crouch down as little as possible when picking them up.
If the cougar attacks, fight back, says B.C. Parks. Keep the animal in front of you and attack their face and eyes, using anything you can as a weapon.
The Times Colonist reached out to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service via the Ministry of Environment about a response to the incident, but did not immediately hear back.
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