A conservation officer shot and killed a cougar in Sooke Tuesday morning following multiple sightings, reports of dead house cats and, most recently, a threatening incident with a man walking his dog.
Officers were called to the scene at approximately 8 a.m. Feb. 2, after a man was threatened by the cougar while walking his dog.
Tracking the cat to the area around Sooke River Road and Highway 14 – near Edward Milne Community School and Saseenos Elementary – and with a crowd of people gathering, conservation officers decided the animal could not be safely tranquillized.
RELATED: Cougar spotted at Royal Roads University Sunday afternoon
Given the number of sightings and cat killings the Conservation Service received in the last few weeks, officers decided to shoot and kill the cougar.
“Generally, that’s not a cougar that we want to remain in a subdivision,” said conservation officer Scott Norris, calling the incident a tragic ending.
When a cougar no longer shows any fear of humans and is spotted that many times, Norris said, action needs to be taken by conservation officers.
Report cougar sightings to 1-877-952-7277.
RELATED: Cougar euthanized after attacking little dog in Qualicum area
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