B.C. conservation officer attacked, injured by cougar in West Kootenay region

Feb 15, 2017 | 2:56 PM

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service says an emaciated cougar that attempted to enter a West Kootenay home through a window attacked and injured one of its officers.

Deputy chief Chris Doyle says it’s the first time in his two-decade career that a conservation officer has been injured by a cougar.

The officer is based in Castlegar and first responded to a call that a pickup truck hit an adult cougar near the Village of Salmo shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The cougar was severely injured and the officer had to euthanize the animal before receiving calls of another cougar trying to enter a home 10 kilometres away.