Canadian rugby player Olivia Apps appears to have been injured in a cougar attack on Vancouver Island.
According to a new report from Ethan Morneau of CHEK News, the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) claims that a wild cougar bit a woman in Strathcona Provincial Park over the weekend.
The victim was later identified as Apps, Team Canada’s rugby sevens captain.
The attack reportedly occurred while the Toronto native and another woman were hiking with off-leash dogs in a remote area of the park. The COS revealed that the animal also attacked one of the dogs.
To defend themselves, the hikers used bear spray, causing the cougar to flee. Both women and their dogs were airlifted out of the area. Apps, 25, received hospital treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The dog is also expected to recover.
“Olivia Apps was treated in hospital shortly after for a minor injury and was able to return to training with the national team immediately following the incident,” Rugby Canada told Daily Hive on Wednesday. “She is very appreciative to the conservation officers, local medical services, and the hikers who supported her and her partner. Her focus remains on preparing for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.”
On June 10, BC Parks closed the Elk River Trail in Strathcona Park, citing a “cougar conflict in the area” on the updated list of advisories on the park’s website.
It’s been estimated that approximately 4,000 cougars live in British Columbia, with 600 to 800 on Vancouver Island, making it the country’s highest concentration of mountain lions. According to the University of Victoria, fatal cougar attacks have been rare, with only five recorded deaths, primarily on Vancouver Island, recorded in the last century.
Apps was selected as an alternate for Canada’s 2020 Olympic team. After the Olympics, in September 2021, she was appointed captain of the Canada Women’s Sevens national rugby team.
Expected to make a full recovery from the cougar encounter, Apps is set to rejoin Team Canada in Paris for the upcoming summer games.
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