Two cougars have been shot and killed after a boy was mauled in the Lake Cowichan, according to conservation officers.
Officials say the 4-year-old child was attacked near the water off Point Ideal Drive around 3:30 p.m.
He has been released from hospital.
READ MORE: Lake Cowichan boy released from hospital after cougar attack
Inspector Ben York with B.C. Conservation Officer Service’s west coast region, received the report of the attack around 4 p.m.
“The child has been transported to hospital with injuries to their head and neck and arm as far as we know,” York said.
B.C. Ambulance Service has confirmed the child was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.
Lake Cowichan Mayor Rod Peters said conservation officers tracked down and shot two cougars at around 5:45 p.m.
Peters said he saw one of the animals being pulled out of the bushes by the officers.
“The cougar ran out of the gated area down into the swamp, then all the conservation officers and the dogs went down there, ” said Peters.
“There was quite the ruckus of barking and stuff, then another shot and they hauled the cougar out.”
Peters says he doesn’t remember an attack like this one in his 40-years in Lake Cowichan, but says there have been recent cougar sightings in the area
“There’s been sightings in the last couple of weeks, quite a few sightings.”
With files from CBC
CHEK News
