Saanich residents encountered a cougar on Tuesday afternoon.

A homeowner who lives at the south end of Bear Hill Park, just north of Elk Lake, encountered the animal around 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 21, Saanich police said in a news release. Video footage shows the cougar on a rural driveway as a husky charges towards it, before the dog鈥檚 owner quickly calls on their pet to turn back.

The cougar is then seen running away from the property. The dog wasn鈥檛 injured during the encounter.

Saanich police said the incident is a good reminder that large animals such as cougars live in the area and homeowners, especially those in rural areas, should be aware of them.

鈥淲e share the environment with large animals such as cougars and bears so residents must take into consideration that encounters with these animals are very likely,鈥� the statement said.

Cougar encounter near Bear Hill earlier this afternoon. A good reminder if you live in rural Saanich to be alert and watch your pets when outside. This Husky has excellent recall!

鈥� Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice)

Police offered several tips to keep in mind:

- Be aware of your surroundings, especially if you live in rural areas

- Keep an eye on your pets when outside or keep them on a leash when possible

- Limit outdoor food sources such as garbage, food scraps or compost, or keep them inside or in a sealed container outside

- Call the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 if a cougar is seen in an urban area, if it cannot be easily scared off, or if the animal is near an urban park or school during the day.

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