One doesn't have to venture far into the country to be in cougar country.

Stephanie Somerville and her daughter Sheena Rogers are certainly aware of this, having recently discovered a large cougar on the property, eating their pet goat, and refusing to leave.

In the early evening of Friday, Sept. 2, Rogers had just returned from work in Cranbrook to the rural property on Hidden Valley Road, towards Moyie, where she and Somerville live, to discover a large cougar ensconced in the backyard.

The cougar just killed the goat, Willow, and was in the process of feeding. The two family dogs however, were also on the scene.

"I drove up and he was in the yard, eating the goat, and our dogs were surrounding it," Rogers said.

And the cat refused to leave.

"It was protecting the goat," Rogers said. "I'm surprised it didn't attack the dogs."

Because the goat had been tied to a tree, the cougar couldn't drag it away, nor, of course, could Rogers or Somerville untie the goat. So stalemate ensued.

Rogers called the Conservation Officer, and sat for a while watching the cougar, which wouldn't leave the goat carcass.

"I sat for a few hours watching it," Rogers said. "But the problem was, it was right beside the road, as well. My cousins (in the neighbourhood) are on their bikes all the time.

The Conservation officer was called, but by the time he arrived it was pitch black, Rogers said - 10 p.m. - and he was unable to kill the cougar. He did, however, drive it off the property. At first light the next day, Rogers said, the CO returned with a team of tracking dogs. They were able to relocate the cougar and put it down.

"We all had to stay in the house until they could find it," Rogers said.

She also praised the efforts of the conservation officers. "They did a good job," she said. "I was very impressed with them."

The cougar was estimated at two and a half years old, weighing in about 110 pounds.

"It was beautiful," Rogers said. "I did not want to kill it. But the thing is, it had killed a dog they said, and we have neighbours with babies.

"He saw the animals, he saw the dogs, and he knew there was easy prey here - they said he would be coming back."