The cougar was first spotted hanging around the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Vancouver Island — a little too close to comfort for people.
That’s when the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service was called to help capture the big cat. By 9 a.m. March 3, officials, with the help of hounds, tracked the cougar to parking lot outside a daycare centre, which was also an unnerving sight.
Along with help from wildlife biologists with the province’s forests ministry, the cougar was safely shot with a tranquilizer dart. That’s when officials could have a good look at the cat.
Which was a very good looking cat.
“There was no conflict history or reports of aggressive behaviour associated with this cougar and the decision was made to relocate the animal,” the BCCOS said in a statement.
It turned out to be a healthy male cougar that may have wandered further into town in search of deer.
The cat was placed in a live trap and taken outside of the city to a more suitable wilderness habitat where it was successfully released.
The #BCCOS would like to thank the @NanaimoRCMP and @VanIslandHealth for their assistance, as well as those who called the #RAPP line.
— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) March 3, 2022
For more information: https://t.co/AxYAjIFhrz pic.twitter.com/yozelUvYZX
It was definitely a good day at the office.
