Cougar suspected in 36 livestock killings on Vancouver Island
Published 11:00 am Friday, October 2, 2026
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Farmers are calling for more action from the BC Conservation Officer Service after one or more cougars is believed to have preyed on more than 30 livestock animals in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.
Most recently, three geese were killed on Billy Jolicoeur and Garrett Jolicoeur’s farm on Garden Road in Qualicum Beach the evening of Sept. 28.
“One was eaten in place,” said Garrett, and added the cougar has been back for the past two nights, based on distinctive “chirping” sounds it makes. “One was just killed with a broken neck and puncture wounds to its neck, which is consistent with the cougar kill. And there was tracks around it. And then the third one I found kind of over the fence in the neighbour’s treed area and it was partially buried. Again, which is a cougar sign.”
The reports date back to August at a friend’s farm on Blower Road in Parksville, where 11 turkeys, five ducks and one house cat were killed.
“They physically saw three separate cougars there,” Garrett added. “It was definitely an injured adult and there seemed to be two juveniles, one older and one probably this year’s birthing.”
Another farm saw 10 goats killed.
The Jolicoeurs said they have counted 36 animals killed across five farms in the area, including their own. They believe the animal is behaving abnormally by killing more prey than it eats, due to its injury.
Although they have not seen the cougar in person, they have heard its chirping sounds and another neighbour’s surveillance camera has picked it up several times.
“We don’t want the community to think that we don’t want any wildlife around here and that we’re anti-wildlife and shoot everything that comes here,” said Billy. “We understand there’s wildlife around and we’ve been dealing with that for years and it’s always been fine and dandy. But it’s because we suspect it’s an injury.”
The Jolicoeurs called BCCOS, who sent an officer out to the farm.
“He didn’t want to track his dog, or bring his dogs, because we have — there’s too many fences,” Garrett said and added they were told to call the RAPP emergency line if the cougar came back.
They are concerned after calling the emergency line, when they could hear the animal in the trees, but have not had an officer respond to the farm for two days and counting, as of Oct. 1.
Especially worrying is the fact that the “kill site” happens to be 10 feet from the playhouse of their two young children.
The BCCOS, in an emailed statement, said it has received reports of a cougar predating on livestock in the Qualicum Beach area.
“The BCCOS recognizes cougar activity can be concerning and co-existence with wildlife can be challenging for agricultural communities,” the statement said. “Conservation officers attended a farm on Tuesday and assessed the area, providing education and guidance on best practices to protect both livestock and wildlife.”
The BCCOS added that responsibility rests with farmers to take steps such as installing an electric fence and securing animals in a barn or coop overnight.
“There have been no reports of a cougar showing aggression towards people or pets in the area,” the statement said. “Cougar sightings in rural areas are not unusual. The majority of Vancouver Island is considered cougar country.”
BC COS said it will continue to monitor cougar activity in the area and respond as necessary to ensure public safety and protection of property.
The Jolicoeurs said their animals were already secured at night, but they have also taken additional measures such as blocking large openings that could let a cougar into the enclosures, leaving lights on and leaving radios on.
“We’re sleeping with our windows open so we can hear if any animal commotion happens outside,” Garrett said. “But it’s a pretty helpless feeling when we did hear the cougar here and we call for help and the conservation officers don’t even return our call.”