Residents of the Tofino area are being warned after a dog was reportedly killed by a wolf at a popular beach.
The District of Tofino said it happened Saturday morning at Middle Chesterman Beach.
The sandy beach is just a few kilometres south of Tofino’s urban centre, and is a popular tourist destination lined with resorts, guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts.
“This is the kind of incident that happens from time to time, we do hear about it… once every few years.” said Tofino Mayor Joise Osborne.
“And unfortunately every once in a while you’ll get a spate of activity, so you know, two or three or even more incidents in the spring or in the fall.”
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The district is asking all dog owners to keep their pets on a leash, to keep animals in overnight and not let pets loose outside to go to the bathroom.
The district says signage is also being prepared for the entrances to the beach.
It’s not the first time that there have been warnings about wolf activity in the area.
In March of last year, Wickaninnish Beach was closed to the public and dogs were banned for the entire Long Beach area for a week after two separate wolf attacks on dogs in Tofino and Ucluelet.
WATCH: Wolf attacks prompt warning on popular Vancouver Island beach (March, 2017)
At the time, Pacific Rim National Park had warned of increasing wolf encounters in the area of Florencia Bay.
If you do encounter a wolf in the wild, Parks Canada advises the following:
- Pick up small children
- Gather the group together
- Do not run
- Do not crouch down
- Make and maintain eye contact
- Wave your arms and shout
- Never approach a carnivore or its den site
- If you encounter wolf pups or cougar kittens, leave the area immediately. Do not approach
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