An unexpected encounter with a mountain lion provided a heart-stopping moment for a photographer exploring the Alberta foothills on a crisp January day. The event occurred on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, near Nanton, when a cougar was seen casually crossing a road in the Porcupine Hills.
A Moment of Shock and Awe
The sighting was so sudden and surprising it triggered an automatic, adrenaline-fueled reaction. For photographer Mike Drew, the instinct was to reach for his camera while processing the sheer improbability of the moment. The large cat, seemingly unbothered, became the highlight of a day-long journey documenting the winter landscape and its inhabitants west of Calgary.
Chasing Frost and Finding a Chinook
The expedition began with hopes of capturing the heavy frost that had coated the city. However, upon reaching the Pine Creek valley and the hills near Millarville and Diamond Valley, it was clear the chinook arch was already at work. This warm, dry wind from the mountains had left the hilltops bare and was rapidly eroding any remaining patches of frost. Gusts began to rock the photographer's truck near Diamond Valley, scattering snow and revealing grass for foraging animals.
Despite the changing conditions, pockets of beauty remained. The basin on the west side of the hills retained a soft, frosty glow on trees and fences. The quiet was broken only by the hissing sound of wind-blown crystals falling from branches.
Calm Creatures of the Foothills
The wildlife observed seemed largely indifferent to both the photographer and the shifting weather. East of Millarville, three moose were found peacefully resting in the snow at the edge of an aspen grove, with only one briefly acknowledging a passing vehicle before resuming its nap.
Further south, a herd of approximately forty mule deer grazed near Diamond Valley. The wind, rather than disturbing them, actually worked in their favor by blowing snow off the grass. The photographer noted their distinctive, fuzzy winter ears, a charming detail of their cold-weather adaptation.
The journey continued south through Longview and across Pekisko Creek into the northern reaches of the Porcupine Hills. Here, the landscape changed again, with brighter sunshine and significantly less snow, marking a clear transition out of the chinook's immediate influence and setting the stage for the day's most dramatic sighting.
The casual appearance of the cougar served as a powerful reminder of the wildness that persists in Alberta's foothills. It underscored the value of these landscapes not just for their scenic beauty, but as vital habitat for large predators and the ecosystems they anchor. For one photographer on a Tuesday drive, it was a jolting and unforgettable testament to nature's capacity to surprise.
