A cougar spotted outside the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Thursday morning has been captured and released back into the wild.
The BC Conservation Officer Service received reports of the cougar seen near the hospital several hours earlier and used hounds to track the animal.
The cougar was found in the parking lot of a nearby daycare just before 9 a.m.
Officers darted the big cat and assessed it along with wildlife biologists from B.C.’s forests ministry.
BCCOS said this particular cougar, a healthy male, did not have any conflict history or reports of aggressive behaviour, leading to the decision to relocate it.
Officials suspect the cougar may have wandered into the populated area in search of deer.
The BCCOS thanked RCMP and hospital staff for their assistance, as well as concerned residents who reported the cougar sighting to the province’s RAPP line.
Anyone who spots a cougar that poses an immediate threat or dangers to public safety is asked to report it to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
CHEK News
