Police issued a warning Monday morning about a cougar sighted on Vancouver's Granville Island.

"Within the past number of hours we have had two unconfirmed cougar sightings in the Granville Island area," said Const. Howard Chow early Monday morning.

Audrey Livland keeps an extra eye out while walking her small dogs after a cougar was sighted early Monday morning on Granville Island.
(Steve Lus/CBC)

"Two witnesses in the area reported that they had seen a cougar on the island," said Chow, possibly on the 1300 block of Cartwright Street.

Police, who also warned schools and business about the sightings, were patrolling the area Monday morning, but were not able to confirm a cougar was in the area.

Local residents Audrey Livland and Denny Falls said they were talking extra care while walking their small dogs Monday morning

"I know the first time I came to face to face with a skunk I was like, 'Oh, my God!' so a cougar, who knows what my reaction will be?" said Falls.

"I haven't seen one today either, and that's the way I want to keep it," said Livland.

The sightings were reported around 3 a.m., said Chow, but with the increased morning traffic, it was likely the cougar has gone into hiding.

Cougars are common in rural parts of B.C., but a spokesperson with the provincial Ministry of Environment said conservation officers have serious doubts a cougar could have made it to Granville Island.

But Chow said since two unrelated people reported the sightings, police were taking them seriously.

Granville Island, a former industrial area on Vancouver's densely populated waterfront, is a popular tourist attraction with a public market, small shops and restaurants filling the former factory and warehouse spaces.

It is connected to the rest of the city at several points and no longer isolated by water.