Cougar shot in North Vancouver was close to school

Conservation officers have killed a cougar in North Vancouver, after it was spotted preying on a domestic cat and raccoons on a property near Edgemont Village.

"I come into the living room and see the cherry tree shaking ...the cougar jumps out of the cherry tree carrying what looks like a blackand brown house cat in its mouth," says Christina Cuk. She called conservation officers, just before midnight on Sunday to the3000 block of Highland Boulevard.

After confirming the predator was a cougar, conservation officer Sgt. Todd Hunter says he was concerned the property was in a high traffic neighbourhood, close to a school.

At around 3 a.m. PT, the same property owner called to report the cougar had returned and was preying on two raccoons.Hunter then called in the tracking dogs.

The cougar a female, estimated to be around 12 months old was located just 30 or 40 metres from the property where it was originally spotted and, at approximately 8.30 a.m., Hunter says, it was destroyed.

The cougarwas considered "very threatening" in its proximity to a highly populated neighbourhood, he said, and, because it was so young, there is the possibility a sibling or mother may be in the area.

MichelleEllison says after Monday's incident, she's hesitant to go out as she has two young children.

"It was a terrible sound. I'dnever heard gun shots at all, it was quite frightening," she says. "That's when I realized how close it must have been to our house."

Conservation officers askthat people be vigilant and call the conservation service if they see another cougar in the area.