The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is closing the cougar hunting season in the East Kootenay, effective midnight on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014.

The closure covers the Columbia River valley from Mica Creek in the north, east to the Alberta border and south to the U.S. border. The following Wildlife Management Units are affected: 4-01 to 4-04, 4-21 to 4-26, 4-34 to 4-37 and 4-40.

The closure is guided by the regional cougar management program to reduce the potential for overharvesting of the cougar population in the area. The closure is a routine action detailed on page 50 of the 2012-14 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis and is undertaken to ensure harvest levels remain sustainable.

To view a copy of the 2012-14 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, visit: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/1214/docs/hunting_trapping_2012_2014.pdf

Media Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261