A cougar that was tranquillized after being chased up a tree by hounds near Gorge Road Hospital on Friday will be released back in the bush today.
Conservation officer Sgt. Scott Norris said the male cougar, which he described as being “in good condition,” was found hunkering down under some logs along the Gorge just after 4 p.m. on Friday. He said it was the same one seen Wednesday and Thursday near the Esquimalt Lagoon.
“It was looking for new territory,” but became scared when it got into a populated urban area, Norris said.
Victoria police and conservation officers looked for the cougar in the 100-block of Gorge Road East, between Balfour Avenue and Carroll Street.
Norris said there were some tense moments as they waited to see what the cougar would do.
Conservation officers called houndsmen, whose dogs chased the cougar up a tree.
“Our plan was to chase him up a tree and later release him,” Norris said.
“In any of these situations you don’t know how it will play out,” he added. “Thankfully, all of the pieces fit together.”
The healthy cougar, thought to be about a year or a year and a half old, was shot in the abdomen with a tranquillizing dart.
After about five minutes, the cougar fell asleep on a tree branch, Norris said.
Conservation officers called Victoria firefighters to come with a ladder.
“Our guys were happy it didn’t fall out of the tree so it didn’t get injured,” said Victoria Battalion Chief Greg Batters.
Our duty crews responded to a different type of rescue this evening, members assisted Conservation Officers and @vicpdcanada with the safe lowering of a tranquilized cougar from a tree along the Gorge. The big cat was taken by Conservation Officers for assessment. #yyjnews #iaff pic.twitter.com/F2HdoNWg9s
— Victoria Fire L-730 (@VictoriaFire730) April 27, 2019
The cougar was carried down a ladder by a Victoria firefighter Devon Lang at about 6:30 p.m. and taken to an undisclosed warehouse for assessment and to recover from the tranquillizer.
Norris said the cougar will be taken “way out of town” into the bush and released.
Vancouver Island COS ear tagging a captured young cougar on the Gorge in Victoria. Thanks to @vicpdcanada, @VictoriaFire730 and VicAnimal Control for the combined work. Cougar was in good health and will be relocated back to the wilderness. pic.twitter.com/Iar9YTkPik
— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) April 27, 2019
