The community of Port Moody, B.C. is issuing a public warning after numerous cougar sightings in the community.

Timber wolves and black bears have also been regularly seen in the same area.

City officials in the city, located 20 kilometres east of Vancouver, had an emergency meeting Thursday night to discuss the problem after receiving numerous concerned calls from residents. A handful of homeowners say they've seen the cats, especially where the city meets the forest -- in and around Heritage woods.

In conjunction with conservation officers, city workers are now taking the step of hanging up cougar warning postings to alert residents to the presence of the cats.

It's been a busy winter for animal sightings in the area. Normally, Port Moody takes down bear warning signs December 1, but this year they've been forced to leave them up because the bears are not hibernating.

Conservation officials believe a poor berry season means bears were not able to accumulate enough calories to safely hibernate for the winter. A lack of food is likely responsible for the spike in recent sightings.

Zlata Lopresti hikes the nearby mountains with her dog often and has seen cougars several times. She is convinced she heard one on a walk with her father and dog today.

"I am still going to go hiking, but keep an eye out and see how my dog reacts. If she backs up and is scared I'm turning around the other ways."

Lopresti tells CTV News that seeing a cougar in higher elevations is common, but never in lower elevations.

Officials say the best thing to do if you see a cougar in your neighbourhood is to remain calm. Most are just passing through the area and hopefully will move on without incident.

Conflicts between humans and cougars in B.C. are extremely rare. According to B.C.'s Ministry of Environment, five people have been killed by cougars in the last 100 years - all but one attack happened on Vancouver Island.

In the same period, there were 29 non-fatal attacks in the province - with 20 of those occurring on Vancouver Island. The majority of attacks are on children under the age of 16.

The city says it is wise to bring children and pets inside if cougars are seen in the area, and keep away from the animal and tell others to do the same.

Cougars will often prey on house cats that are allowed to roam freely. The disappearance of household pets is often a strong indicator that cougars are present in a residential area.

They also warn to keep your houses free of attractants, like bird feeders or garbage.

If you suspect a cougar is in your neighbourhood, call the phone centre at 1-800-663-9453. Call immediately if the animal becomes threatening or aggressive towards people.