Cougar spotting closes southern Alberta park

Police are warning people in southern Alberta'sFort Macleod to use caution after a cougar sighting.

The River Valley Wilderness Park, a 240-hectare park,will remain closed to the public while Alberta Fish and Wildlife officialstrack the animal with dogs Thursday.

Sgt.Dennis Eidetof theFort Macleod RCMP saidthe cougar was spotted by people in the park three separate times on Wednesday.

"They observed the cougar in a tree. Around noon, it was drinking from a stream and then some people cycling through the wilderness park saw it going through the trees alongside the trail and then cut across in front of them."

Police are also warning people to stay away from the Old Man River Valley in the Fort Macleod area. Fort Macleod is north of Lethbridge.