Cougar shot after sheep killed

BC Conservation officers shot and killed a cougar in East Kelowna Wednesday night after it killed a farmer's lambs and ewe.

Conservation Officer Sgt. Josh Lockwood says his officers were called to the property on June Springs Road to trap the cougar after they received a call from a concerned farmer.

“The complainant reported that he had two lambs killed over the last week and then last night a cougar returned and killed a ewe by jumping through the window of his barn, carried the ewe through the window and left without feeding on it.”

Photo: Contributed

File photo

When conservation officers got on site they went to find the ewe's body and set a trap, but found the cougar still on scene.

“They encountered the cougar eating the sheep on the property. It was dark and the officers fired one shot and killed the cougar,” said Lockwood.

The farmer who lost the sheep, Klemens Koester, says eight years ago they lost 25-sheep to a cougar, but have since got four dogs to protect the property which had made a difference until this year.

He says he feared for his livestock, but also his family and felt he had to call.

“The cougar actually carried the ewe out of my barn and that is one of the main reasons I had to call. I have been locking up my sheep and lambs and llamas at night and I had to call because if it is carrying it out of my barn when is it going to sit on my balcony,” said Koester. “I was not only scared for my animals, I was scared for my family and kids.”

Sgt. Lockwood says this particular cougar has been in the area a long time and was feeding on deer not causing issues, but recently crossed the line and started killing livestock.