See the entries in our Pet Photo Contest — pages 11-15 & Women in Business - page 2 CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2012
Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275
47th Year No. 42 THURS., OCTOBER 18, 2012
GAZETTE NORTH ISLAND
EDITORIAL Page 6
LETTERS Page 7
www.northislandgazette.com NORTH ISLAND LIFE Page 17
SPORTS Page 19
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Cougar dines, dashes
Hot stuff Three-year-old Drake Brooks, the son of Port McNeill firefighter Dacen Brooks, arrived ready to participate in the department’s annual open house last Thursday. More from the open house events at the Port Hardy and Port McNeill departments on page 17 and online at www.northislandgazette.com. J.R. Rardon
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J.R. Rardon Gazette staff PORT HARDY—Richard Sears wasn’t entirely certain what ran past the driveway where he was doing concrete work with Ian Henderson Tuesday afternoon. But he knew it wasn’t a typical neighbourhood dog or cat. “I just saw something flash out of the corner of my eye and I thought, ‘That’s too big a tail,’” said Sears. Sears and Henderson walked carefully around their work van and were shocked to find themselves in the front row of a nature documentary. “This cat was booting it right past here, and the cougar was right behind it,” said Henderson. The two watched the cats disappear behind a nearby hedge, and within moments saw the cougar reappear with the smaller cat in its jaws and lope casually toward the driveway where they stood. That prompted the men to clamber into their van and place a call to 9-1-1. “I wasn’t afraid for myself,” said Sears. “I was!” Henderson countered. “I was mainly worried about the kids that are going to be getting out of school here,” Sears finished. RCMP officers arrived and followed the cat on foot into the green belt that runs between the homes and the adjacent trailer park. They saw low branches rustling as the cougar moved away through the underbrush, but did not get a clear look at the animal itself. The Conservation Officer Service was also called in, as well as cougar-tracking dogs, but the big cat seemed to have vacated the premises before they arrived. Sears told the officers the cat appeared healthy — “It had a beautiful coat,” he said — but appeared smaller than a full-grown adult. “It was the most exciting day I’ve had at work for a while,” said Sears.
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