Conservation officers were able to capture and release a cougar roaming near the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital this morning.
Hounds were used to track and located the cougar in a parking lot outside a nearby daycare shortly after 9 a.m., Thursday morning.
The cougar had been spotted in the hospital area several hours earlier.
In a tweet, the British Columbia Conservation Officer (BCCOS) said the feline was relocated to a wilderness area outside of the city.
The male cougar was tranquilized and assessed before being released.
“There was no conflict history or reports of aggressive behaviour associated with this cougar and the decision was made to relocate the animal,” BCCOS said in a statement.
It is believed the healthy cougar may have wandered further into town in search of deer.
The BCCOS thanked Nanaimo RCMP and the hospital for their assistance, as well as those who reported the cougar sighting.
The #BCCOS would like to thank the @NanaimoRCMP and @VanIslandHealth for their assistance, as well as those who called the #RAPP line.
For more information: https://t.co/AxYAjIFhrz pic.twitter.com/yozelUvYZX— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) March 3, 2022