Cougar sighted in Whitehorse subdivision

A cougar sighting in the Porter Creek subdivision has prompted a warning from Yukon conservation officers.

Ken Knutson, who manages southern field operations for Environment Yukon, said they received calls last Friday reporting a cougar around Jack Hulland School.

"We received two calls in fairly rapid succession from the Porter Creek area where one person had seen a cougar in their backyard and another person had seen one near the school," he said.

"It's good to let people know cougars are around and they should have the same vigilance in the woods they might have with other wild animals."

Knutson said an officer spent the afternoon patrolling the neighbourhood but found no sign of the animal. He said cougar sightings have increased significantly over recent years.