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Cougar shot and killed near west-central Alberta school

Last Updated Jun 25, 2017 at 10:41 am MDT

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2010, file photo, 13-year-old cougar Chinook opens her mouth and makes a chirping sound to call her mate at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Ore. Cougars prowling near the remote community of La Pine, Ore., have killed two pets and at least 12 chickens, and are stoking fear in the community spread out in the piney woods of Central Oregon just east of the Cascade Range. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – Police say they shot and killed a cougar that had climbed a tree near a school in west-central Alberta.

RCMP say they responded to a 911 call early Friday in Rocky Mountain House about a cougar that was spotted walking down Main Street.

Officers found the cougar in the downtown, where it climbed a tree near Ecole Rocky Elementary School.

They said they were concerned children would soon be arriving for school, so they consulted with an Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer on what to do.

Police said the agency recommended shooting the cougar.

The big cat was put down with a single shot.