A cougar has been sighted in the Pidherny-Hart Highlands area.
Mike Nash and Judy Lett were on their way up Foothills Boulevard on Friday night when they saw the animal on the east side of the road, just below the Ridgeview area.
At first, they did not believe their eyes.
"It's one of those things that hits you instantly - 'wow, that's odd, totally different' - and then moments later you sort of put the pieces together and make an ID," said Nash, a noted outdoor enthusiast who has written several books, columns and magazine articles on the topic.
Nash said he only saw the eyes reflecting in the headlights of his car but the movements strongly suggested the animal.
Lett got a better view.
"It was a little bit dark but I saw the flash of the eyes," Lett said. "And the way it was walking, it looked like a big cat. It almost looked like it was after prey, slinking along...it was cool to see."
Even for Nash, it was something to remember.
He said it was only the second time he has ever actually seen the animal, the other being at dusk near Dease Lake, driving back from a backpacking trip
However, the couple has come across signs of cougars passing through the greenbelt next to their home in past years, notably footprints in the snow indicating a large male had been following them on a trail they like to walk.
And Lett said walkers who frequent the Pidherny area recently came across the remains of a deer and suspect it was taken down by a cougar.
The couple has let the neighbours know so they can keep an eye out while walking their dogs or taking their children out for a stroll.
Conservation Officer Service Sgt. Steve Ackles took the report in stride saying the animals only become a concern when they deviate from their typical "prey profile" - when they stop going after deer or raccoons or "even house cats."
"When cougars start being seen following people with dogs - and typically, they're focussed on the dog - during daylight hours in months other than say August when the deer have spots, that's behaviour we really want to take note of," Ackles said.
Even then, it's still a "very long stretch from a cougar stalking a dog to a cougar stalking a human."
Regardless, even if a cougar appears to be simply going about its natural business, Ackles said it's still worthwhile giving the COS the heads up by leaving a report on its 24-hour hotline (1-877-952-7277).
"We really need those reports and sightings just to keep track," Ackles said.
As for what to do if you come across a cougar, "definitely never turn your back or run from a cougar," Ackles advised.
Instead, make yourself big, throw rocks and stare it down.
"Look right into its eyes like two boxers staring each other down," he added.
Bear bangers and horns won't make a difference.
"Noise does not seem to be a negative stimulus to them," Ackles said.
Last year, there were 14 sightings in the Prince George area reported to the Conservation Officer Service - a far cry from the number of sightings on Vancouver Island.
"In Nanaimo, for example, we probably have four to five cougars living within city limits and typically, we would not remove a cougar from the population unless there was indication that it was going off its prey profile," Ackles said.
