The Cougar
Natures contribution to the feline population in the area takes the form of a somewhat larger than average pussycat, in fact a whole bunch larger.
Averaging 150 pounds in weight and eight feet nose to tail, the powerful cougar has gained the respect of man as king of his domain. Though normally wary of man and his habitation, hunger or illness often drives the cougar to seek an easy supper offered in the form of pets.
Holberg gained nation wide news coverage in 1957 when 17 cats and dogs went missing in six weeks leaving the pert population at 12. Professional cougar hunters were imported to reduce the possible threat to personnel.
"Old timers all tell the same story, that a cougar will not attack a man unless too old or too slow to catch its natural prey of deer. This is a small comfort to a man like Alfred Lovik, who fended off an attacking cougar with his bicycle for two miles along the road to Holberg. Jim Cordy lived on the main road at that time, when Lovik burst into his house, he took his gun and tracked the beast. To his amazement it walked right up to him until it almost touched the muzzle of the gun. Cordy could not miss - he broke its jaw with the first shot, and watched it slump to the ground at his feet. Then suddenly it leaped straight up into the air and, clawing the ground, scrambled off into the bush. Cordy followed it and eventually killed it.
As a result of this experience, Lovik left the area because he felt he could no longer cope with the wilderness.
Many people have had various encounters in and around the Station. These, however, thankfully limited to nothing more than a catalyst to the victim’s aging process, or a quick trip to the washroom!
