Cougar shot, killed in West Vancouver

Conservation officers shot and killed a threatening cougar that was spotted in West Vancouver on Thursday.

The officers were called after thecougar had an encounter with a German Shepherd and the dog'sowner as they walked on a trail along theCapilano River near Park Royal mall.

"It was just laying there on the ground, [so] I was able to approach him and killed him on site there," said conservation officer Simon Gravel. "It definitelyis a public safety concern for us to have a cougar walking in so high-density, residential area in the middle of the day like this."

Conservation officers say they have received several calls of a cougar jumping into backyards andon tobalconies and decks overthe past two weeks.

Craig Pamplin saw a cougarwhile cycling through Klahanie Park on Wednesday.

"I saw a large cat come out of the greenway," he said. "It was not aggressive at all, it was kind of timid ... I'm sure it wasn't happy to be out at midday like that. I wasn't worried at all."

Earlier this week, atrio of cougars and bears was caught on surveillance video at a salmon hatchery in Port Moody.