CANADA Canada - Darius Macdougall, 5, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta,Canada 21 Sept 2025

[100summers]

the presence of apex predators makes my anxiety go through the roof , I know bears don't live in all parts of Canada and am hoping none are present in this part of the forest

@nao was pretty spot on with their info. I never encountered any wolves in the area when I lived there (they're definitely present in the area around town but in all my hikes I never encountered any, and I've never heard anyone from there talk about the wolves encroaching into town) but coyotes, black and grizzly bears, and mountain lions are very common there. I do think all the noise and activity from the searchers would heavily deter predators away from the area, though.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

“Day seven: RCMP ‘refocus’ search as survivability put below five per cent

Nicholas L. M. Allen
Sep 28, 2025

About 200 personnel recheck land and water as air crews move from infrared to cameras; RCMP say search is not scaling back and no foul play suspected.

Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta said Sunday the search for six year old Darius Macdougall is not being scaled back, but tactics are being refocused as the operation enters its seventh day.

Cpl. Gina Slaney said RCMP, Search and Rescue and victim family liaison officers met the family Sunday morning to discuss survivability.

[SBM]

Surface and underwater assets are present to revisit areas previously searched.

[SBM]

[Adam Kennedy, provincial training manager with Search and Rescue Alberta] said no cadaver dogs have been brought in to his knowledge.

[SBM]

RCMP reiterated there is no evidence of foul play and that the case remains a missing child investigation.

[SBM]

RCMP confirmed the family was camped south of Highway 3 in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone, down Tent Mountain Road, not at Island Lake campground. Slaney said the search continues and resource deployment will be evaluated as operations proceed.“

Much more at the link:

News | Pass Herald

Crowsnest Pass Herald stories - Stories from around the Crowsnest Pass and area.

www.passherald.ca

 

[MistyWaters]

‘Spoke about survivability’: Alberta RCMP, SAR meet with family as search for missing boy continues

RCMP officers and Alberta search and rescue officials met with the family of Darius Macdougall Sunday to discuss “survivability concerns” as the search for the missing boy continues.

www.ctvnews.ca

Slaney said that search tactics have changed, but not been reduced.

Kennedy said some air search tactics have changed.

“It will change the use of some of the infrared technologies on the assumption that the infrared technologies won’t be picking up any heat signatures on the ground,” Kennedy said. “That’s the biggest change right now is changing from using the infrared to solely cameras to search the ground.”

 

[MistyWaters]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/one-week-search-alberta-missing-child-1.7645762

Search-and-rescue expert Robert Koester, who wrote Lost Person Behavior: A Search and Rescue Guide on Where to Look - for Land, Air and Water, told CBC News searching for children with autism is more common than one might think, in his experience working in Virginia.

"The major challenge with autism is in some cases they're non-responsive, so if you shout their name they can't call back," he said. "In other cases, you shout their name and they don't want to call back because they may be afraid."…….

…..He said additional challenges may include "actively hiding from searchers" and that missing people with autism tend to be found in structures.

"If you're truly out in the woods, where there are no structures around, they sometimes have a tendency to crawl into the thickest ... tightest, densest vegetation possible," he said.

 

[wvmoonangel]

As of 2 hours ago they are saying he has less than 5% chance of survival.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/one-week-search-alberta-missing-child-1.7645762

 

[nao]

Moo..and he has been out there in the nites. It would seem natural to find a crevice, hollow tree stump, somewhere to secret himself away. Also possible he might get stuck somewhere small...
Moo

 

[MistyWaters]

Moo..and he has been out there in the nites. It would seem natural to find a crevice, hollow tree stump, somewhere to secret himself away. Also possible he might get stuck somewhere small...
Moo

Yes it’s truly heartbreaking, they tried so hard. Searchers are looking eye level 4 and more feet above ground and if he crawled into a small opening somewhere he’s probably less than 1 foot above, if that.
JMO

 

[Andreee]

So sad! I hadn't looked at a map of the public campground area the group was in until now. As a Canadian, I know that Crowsnest Pass is heavily forested, but looking at a map it is moreso than I thought for people to camp in! I also thought with the intense search efforts with modern tech & and the like, that there was no way this time this little boy could not be found by searchers. Having seen the level of density of the area though, I think he could still be missed somehow. And the theory that he was abducted seems miniscule IMO JMO.

 

[Andreee]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/one-week-search-alberta-missing-child-1.7645762

Search-and-rescue expert Robert Koester, who wrote Lost Person Behavior: A Search and Rescue Guide on Where to Look - for Land, Air and Water, told CBC News searching for children with autism is more common than one might think, in his experience working in Virginia.

"The major challenge with autism is in some cases they're non-responsive, so if you shout their name they can't call back," he said. "In other cases, you shout their name and they don't want to call back because they may be afraid."…….

…..He said additional challenges may include "actively hiding from searchers" and that missing people with autism tend to be found in structures.

"If you're truly out in the woods, where there are no structures around, they sometimes have a tendency to crawl into the thickest ... tightest, densest vegetation possible," he said.

I can't even pinpoint the area that the group were camped at on public ground. It looks almost north of Hwy 3, not south. Nor the road they were camped near. Also, guess media reports had it wrong all long re. Island Lake campground being the location. At any rate, very remote!

 

[MistyWaters]

I can't even pinpoint the area that the group were camped at on public ground. It looks almost north of Hwy 3, not south. Nor the road they were camped near. Also, guess media reports had it wrong all long re. Island Lake campground being the location. At any rate, very remote!

That same question was asked during the update a day or two ago and it was confirmed both the recreation area and the search area are on the south side off hwy 3.

But I haven’t noticed a reference map has been released and some of the information in MSM appears contradictory so i’m not sure precisely where the area is located either. Fo example Livingstone PLUZ begins north of Coleman on hwy 40, a distance away from both Blairmore and Island Lake Campground.

 

[tarabull]

Livingstone Public Land Use Zone - Summer

This georeferenced map of the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) shows the location of the PLUZ, the available access road and trails, and other features of the PLUZ. Effective May 1 through November 30, 2024. For more information, please see https://www.alberta.ca/livingstone.aspx Your use...

store.avenza.com

Livingstone Public Land Use Zone - Open Government

open.alberta.ca

 

[MistyWaters]

Livingstone Public Land Use Zone - Summer

This georeferenced map of the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) shows the location of the PLUZ, the available access road and trails, and other features of the PLUZ. Effective May 1 through November 30, 2024. For more information, please see https://www.alberta.ca/livingstone.aspx Your use...

store.avenza.com

Livingstone Public Land Use Zone - Open Government

open.alberta.ca

The total area of Livingstone PLUZ is huge, 539.8 square miles so that isn’t one specific small area although my understanding is the search area is somewhere within.

Exploring Alberta's Crown Land: Livingstone - Public Land Use Zone - The Wild Albertan

Livingstone Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) in Southern Alberta represents a diverse and enchanting ecosystem offering varied outdoor adventures including camping, off-road activities, hiking, horse riding, cross-country skiing, hunting, and fishing. It is distinguished for balancing environmental...

wildalbertan.ca

 

[AndrewM71]

As of 2 hours ago they are saying he has less than 5% chance of survival.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/one-week-search-alberta-missing-child-1.7645762

Is it just me or does this seem a little harsh to share publicly? I know the search may soon go from rescue to recovery, but I can’t recall other occasions where LE has put down odds like this.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Is it just me or does this seem a little harsh to share publicly? I know the search may soon go from rescue to recovery, but I can’t recall other occasions where LE has put down odds like this.

My line of thinking is to stress how time is of the essence maybe?

Isn't is usual for status to change to recovery even after 4 days? I'm unsure the protocols... I was surprised they are still hoping for survival to be honest Realistically, it isn't looking good. BUT miracles happen so let's hope!!!

 

[lcl117]

That same question was asked during the update a day or two ago and it was confirmed both the recreation area and the search area are on the south side off hwy 3.

But I haven’t noticed a reference map has been released and some of the information in MSM appears contradictory so i’m not sure precisely where the area is located either. Fo example Livingstone PLUZ begins north of Coleman on hwy 40, a distance away from both Blairmore and Island Lake Campground.

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

Sixty tactical officers conduct shoulder-to-shoulder search for missing six-year-old as rescue teams maintain optimism based on statistical analysis.

shootinthebreeze.ca

 

[meidacat]

The article says
- last seen when he went for a walk with 6 family members
..none of whom were adults fwiw
- today search teams expanded into new areas...
- also again covered some previous search areas
- current search radius = 3kms from the campsite & it will gradually widen to 6.6 kms

He probably got lost on the walk, maybe he got trailed off or fell behind and managed to get lost?

 

[meidacat]

His probably close to where he went missing, I don't think he went to far. There is though, a possible chance someone kidnapped him when he trailed off, which would make it harder to find him. I believe he got lost and is either alive in wilderness, got kidnapped, or was killed by something while lost in the habitat(sadly, I believe its the 3rd one ).

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I saw elsewhere someone pondered this thought: wonder if possible he climbed into another person's RV or trailer who was camping there?

Maybe he hid himself when someone else was packing up to leave? Doubtful as I'm sure people would have come forward if they have unloaded or unpacked at another destination.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

My apologies, upthread I posted a slew of photos and info about the Island Lake Campground which is near where Darius went missing. More or less to get a visual of the general vicinity/environment and feel for the campground there.

My mistake, as Darius and family were actually at the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone on Tent Mountain Road, south of Highway 3.

I haven't done any digging or screenshots of that area yet, will try to today... but I think it seems more isolated without too many other campers near by (I may be wrong, will try to find more info).

‘Spoke about survivability’: Alberta RCMP, SAR meet with family as search for missing boy continues

RCMP officers and Alberta search and rescue officials met with the family of Darius Macdougall Sunday to discuss “survivability concerns” as the search for the missing boy continues.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[MistyWaters]

My apologies, upthread I posted a slew of photos and info about the Island Lake Campground which is near where Darius went missing. More or less to get a visual of the general vicinity/environment and feel for the campground there.

My mistake, as Darius and family were actually at the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone on Tent Mountain Road, south of Highway 3.

I haven't done any digging or screenshots of that area yet, will try to today... but I think it seems more isolated without too many other campers near by (I may be wrong, will try to find more info).

‘Spoke about survivability’: Alberta RCMP, SAR meet with family as search for missing boy continues

RCMP officers and Alberta search and rescue officials met with the family of Darius Macdougall Sunday to discuss “survivability concerns” as the search for the missing boy continues.

www.ctvnews.ca

The RCMP shared this photo. I don’t know if it’s the exact area but it probably doesn’t matter as it’s all as rugged and difficult terrain.

Source:

Favourite song among the tools used in search for missing Alberta boy | Globalnews.ca

Search and rescue crews have adopted some new tactics as they continue to search for a 6-year-old boy who went missing five days ago near the Crowsnest Pass area of Alberta.

globalnews.ca