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Bears, bobcats, cougars and more: Hidden trail cams capture B.C. wildlife

Click to play video: 'Woman’s trail cameras capture amazing footage of B.C. wildlife'
Woman’s trail cameras capture amazing footage of B.C. wildlife
A woman on the Sunshine Coast has several cameras setup along trails near her home and has captured magnificent footage of animals going about their daily lives. Kylie Stanton reports – Jan 22, 2025

A Sunshine Coast woman, inspired by a Global News story about wildlife photos, decided to start capturing images herself with stunning results.

“I’ve always enjoyed hiking and tracking and looking for wildlife while I’m out hiking,” Mary Beth Pongrac said.

“But, you know, it’s hard. You have to go quietly and you have to be at the right time at the right place.”

However, Pongrac said she when she saw a story on Global Calgary about a couple installing wildlife cameras on their property, she could not believe what they managed to capture.

So she decided to give it a try.

Click to play video: 'Footage of B.C. wildlife caught on trail cameras'
Footage of B.C. wildlife caught on trail cameras

The 65-year-old got to work, putting up a motion- and heat-activated camera on a nearby trail.

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It did not take long before she started to see results.

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Pongrac said the camera captured cougars, bears and bobcats.

She now has 11 wildlife trail cameras set up throughout the Sunshine Coast and her hard work has been rewarded.

Pongrac has some amazing video of elk, a mama bear with cubs, a spotted skunk and even a rare sighting of a Western Screech Owl.

Click to play video: 'Amazing humpback whale encounter caught on video'
Amazing humpback whale encounter caught on video

But her favourite remains an up-close encounter with a large cat.

“What are the chances, in the middle of nowhere, that the cougar stopped, centred, in front of my camera, lying down for a bit,” Pongrac said.

She installs the cameras in areas where there have been signs of wildlife but she does not disclose their locations to protect the animals.

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However, she said people who hike in that area would be amazed to know how much wildlife uses the same trails.

“It shows the animals aren’t out there to get us,” she said.  “They’re not. It’s quite phenomenal.”

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