LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Wildlife officials are asking Fort Simpson residents to take extra precautions after more cougar sightings in the village.

The first sighting was reported on July 7 by two residents who were driving out of the village. They saw the animal on the highway at the first corner past the gun range. Since then there has been two additional sightings.

A cougar was seen on July 10 around 11 p.m. near the turn off to Rowe's Construction. Two days later around the same time Karen Sibbeston was driving off the island and saw the animal near the Bannockland turn off.

Sibbeston said she slowed down because she wasn't sure what it was.

"I was curious, too," she said.

It was the animal's long tail that helped her identify it as a cougar. The animal moved off the road and into the ditch before turning back to look at her.

"He was very curious," Sibbeston said.

Sibbeston describes the animal as having orange-yellow as well as dark-brown fur. It was approximately the size of a medium-sized dog. Having seen the cougar Sibbeston said she'll be more cautious while outside around her house.

Carl Lafferty, the manager of wildlife and environment for the Deh Cho region, would like to see all residents, especially those in the Nogha Heights and Wild Rose subdivisions take extra precautions.

"Since this animal is a predator, I'm taking this very seriously," Lafferty said.

Lafferty is asking residents to be on the look out for the cougar and immediately report any sightings, no matter what time of day or night, to the wildlife emergencies line.

"The sooner it's reported the sooner we can address it," he said.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources' staff needs to make sure no one is at risk from the animal and determine why it's remaining near the village, Lafferty said.

Staff members are definitely looking at removing the cougar because it can't be allowed to stay near the village, he said.

"Prevention is the best way to go," said Lafferty.

The department's staff has increased patrols of the village and the RCMP has also been asked for its assistance with the matter.

In the meanwhile small children shouldn't be left unattended and people shouldn't walk alone in the early evenings or morning, said Lafferty.

This is the second year a cougar has been sighted near the village. Last year a cougar was seen a number of times near Wild Rose.

It was the first reported sighting of a cougar in recent memory in the area, said Lafferty. Cougars have been spotted previously near Jean Marie River and in other locations around the territory.

"It seems to me the frequency is increasing," he said.

Lafferty was unable to say if this is the same animal as last year.

Cougars are normally found in the forested parts of the foothills, mountains and interior plateaus of western Canada. Their primary food source is white tailed deer although none have been spotted around Fort Simpson recently.

Lafferty speculates the cougar is eating rabbits. However, anyone who has a pet go missing should report it. It could be a sign the animal is changing from natural food sources to more opportunistic kills, he said.