It is my understanding that the mission of the Protecting Animal Life Society (P.A.L.S.) is to protect animals within the Arrow Lakes region: dogs, cats, rabbits and other domesticated varieties. To accomplish this more effectively, the general public must be made aware of habituated resident predator animals, such as bears and cougars.
According to the Arrow Lakes News, the public was made aware of the recent resident cougar through social media. What about all the people who are not on social media? After talking to many area residents, including some P.A.L.S. Board members, I learned that the cougar had been in the vicinity of Nakusp for a long period of time, as cats and dogs went missing for the last six months.
I believe that it should be the mandate of P.A.L.S. to be proactive and warn the general public when a predator animal has become habituated in the Nakusp area. Depending on Conservation Officer intervention and social media is not good enough. Once specific information is gathered, P.A.L.S. Should notify the Conservation Officer and issue a warning by newspaper and P.A.L.S. Notice boards. This would help the public to be more wary of the danger and take extra precaution with their pets.
Ken Williams
Naksup, BC