Cougar captured in Kelowna put down

UPDATE:  Conservation Officer Ed Seitz says the service made the difficult decision to put the cougar down because it was in poor health.

Seitz says a main incisor tooth was broken off at the gum line, which would have made it hard for the animal to capture prey.

Kelowna RCMP were called when people spotted a cougar hanging out near an apartment building Sunday night.

The call came in around 8:50 p.m. from residents of the building on the 2100 block of Cooper Road.

A large female cougar was resting in a decorative brick alcove just outside the main entrance of the complex.

The B.C. Conservation service was called and two officers attended.

Using a tranquilizer gun, they darted the cougar.

The cat ran off, but was soon overtaken by the tranquilizer.

The conservation officers loaded it into the truck and took it away to recover before the animal will be released back into the wild.

RCMP are impressed with how the situation was handled.

“Clearly this situation ended in the best possible way,” Cnst. Steve Holmes said in a news release. “People were prudent in leaving the cougar alone and the conservation officers did a terrific job in dealing with this beautiful but dangerous animal, protecting both her and the public in the process.”