Cougar attack prompts school bus concern

A cougar attack in a western Canada community has officials looking to come up with money to bus students who have been walking to school. The cougar attacked a dog as it was on a walk with its owner and another dog last week in the middle of downtown Canmore, a community of more than 12,000 people that lies about 62 miles west of Calgary, Alberta, The Calgary Herald reported Monday. The dog suffered only minor injuries, but some residents are surprised the big cat attacked in the middle of town. "All of a sudden it makes it really real," said Kim Titchener, who represents an organization that tries to reduce conflict between humans and wildlife. "To have it actually happen downtown in your community is a lot scarier than having it happen on a trail or out there in the backcountry." Brian Callaghan, superintendent of schools at Canadian Rockies Public Schools, said the incident highlighted the need to increase bus services for students who live less than 1.5 miles from school. Currently, Alberta province funds busing for students living more than that distance away. "There may be places where the department has to give us some special consideration where we have predators who are now starting to come into our town sites," Callaghan said. "Our provincial leaders should be aware that we're trying to do our best in an area where I don't control wildlife."