Cougar killed after Halloween sighting in New Westminster neighbourhood

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. – Police in New Westminster say a cougar is dead after the large cat was spotted prowling around a residential neighbourhood on Halloween.

Police took to social media earlier in the evening to warn the public about the sighting, urging everyone to be careful and to keep pets indoors.

Officers eventually located the cougar several blocks from where it was originally reported.

Police say the animal posed a significant risk to the public and had to be put down.

Conservation officers were called in earlier last month to downtown Victoria when a cougar was spotted bounding over fences and through backyards in the neighbourhood surrounding the B.C. legislature.

In that case officers were able to tranquilize the animal and relocate it into the wild.