Sick cougar found near Kelowna mall euthanized

A female cougar spotted next to a Kelowna apartment building close to Kelowna's Orchard Park Mall has now been euthanized because the animal was in poor health.

On Sunday night, Kelowna RCMPreceived a call from nervous residents of an apartment building on Cooper Road, near Springfield Road.

Police said the large cat was seeking shelter from the snow and "resting in a decorative brick alcove just outside the main entrance doors."

Tenants kept their distance and police notified the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

Cougar initially to be moved, now put down

Two conservation officers used a tranquilizer gun to subdue the cougar.

The conservation officers initially planned to takethe animal away to be released into the wild, but, upon closer inspection, said the cat was in poor health with sores on her body and problems with her teeth.

"[Teeth are] a tool they use for survival in the wild and without it they could likely starve to death and that's probably why it was in the situation it found itself in in Kelowna," conservation officer Ed Sitez said.

"It's a situation that is tough to deal with, but we try to do our best and do what's best for the animal. In this case, unfortunately, it had to be put down."

RCMPmeanwhile praised residents for their quick response and for staying out of a potentially dangerous situation.

"The tenants wisely kept their distance," said Kelowna RCMP Const. Steve Holmes.

"People were prudent in leaving the cougar alone."