Cougar put down after stalking Black Mountain neighbourhood

KELOWNA – A cougar spotted in a residential neighbourhood near Black Mountain Elementary was tranquilized and then euthanized yesterday afternoon.

Conservation officer Ken Owens says the animal was captured near Lynrick Road Tuesday, Aug. 4, after reports of it going from backyard to backyard, behavior he describes as opportunistic.

“First our officers tranquilized the cougar and removed it from the site. We assessed the condition of the animal and its behaviour. It was thin and emaciated, aproximately 60 lbs., and was not displaying normal behaviour, so the decision was made to euthanize the cat.”

Owens acknowledges that some members of the public will be angered by their decision but says the behaviour of the cougar, and its condition, made the animal dangerously unpredictable.

“This was a matter of public safety. We can’t translocate them, its very stressful for the cat and it will very often come back to the area where it was captured. It’s not common that we have to take this action but it does occur.”

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.