Two cougars were shot and killed by conservation officers Friday after a four-year-old boy was attacked in Lake Cowichan.
The attack happened around 3:30 p.m. in a swampy area off Point Ideal Drive, said Lake Cowichan Mayor Rod Peters, who was at the scene.
The child was airlifted to hospital in Vancouver with injuries to his head, neck and arm.
“His arm was chewed up, but he’s going to be okay,” said Peters.
Conservation officers used hounds to locate and destroy two cougars in the immediate area which they believe are the two cougars involved in the attack, said Insp. Ben York with the BC Conservation Officer Service.
“Officers are continuing to search the area with hounds to make sure there are no other cougars in the area that might be involved and to preserve public safety,” said York.
“Officers will also be conducting a forensic investigation of the site to ensure that the animals that were destroyed are the offending animals.”
Peters saw one of the cougars and said it was young and not very big.
The family has asked for privacy.
– Louise Dickson, Times Colonist
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