A cougar that has been hanging around Royal Roads campus in Colwood has not been spotted today -- but Conservation officer Peter Pauwels says it doesn't necessarily mean it's moved on.
"As of last night it was still on the Royal Roads grounds. And we didn't have any sightings of it leaving the area so I would suspect that it is still there."
The big cat has been spotted 3 times since Thursday night . Pauwels says it's displaying a curious behaviour and showing an interest in people's dogs.
He says you are taking a chance going in there right now, especially with a dog:
"People should be aware that if they go into Royal Roads, particularly with a dog, there's a very good chance they're going to encounter this animal. And if they do encounter it, it's displaying a very curious behaviour. It's approaching people, it seems to be focusing on their dogs. So people need to be aware that that can happen. The correct response is to face the animal and to try and scare it off. Yell at it, make a lot of noise. It seems like in 2 out of the 3 cases that has worked and it backed off."
He estimates if there is no sighting for about 5 or 6 days then there's a good chance it would have left by then.