A young cougar paid a visit to Penticton's lakeshore park near the Peach Concession this morning. photo contributed by Brian Yastrenski

Lakeshore Drive residents wake to cougar sighting

PENTICTON – Residents in the area of 100 Lakeshore Drive may have witnessed an unusual sight this morning — a cougar lounging on park grass just east of the Peach Concession at approximately 7:30.

“My wife called me on the way to work and said there was a cougar across the street,” says Penticton resident Brian Yastrenski, who turned around and made his way back to the waterfront in time to snap a few photographs.

Yastrenski believes it was a young cougar. He said two police were at the park ensuring the cat stayed in the park. A conservation officer later tranquilized it and moved it.

Police would not confirm any details, saying a news release would be issued later.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

7 responses

  1. Karen Mowat

    Glad I wasn’t there today!

  2. Paula Vandemortel

    thank you for relocating rather then killing.

  3. Beverly Ann Ashworth

    Wow… FYI keep a watch out!

  4. Kevin Dunham

    I was there during the whole thing, it was in a tree immediately West of the Peach, it jumped out after being hit with the traq dart and ran inside the fenced off Rotary Park Work Zone, then got out of it and ran East towards the hotel, then finally the drug kicked in fully and it came to this resting point as the picture points out. Just near the entrance of Rotary Park (South East of the park).

  5. Nicole Hansen

    Right by the Peach – it’s just out of the picture.

  6. Dale Fleming

    This appears to be just behind the “Peach” on Lakeshore Dr. at Winnipeg.

  7. Joan Smith

    I walk there a lot and can, t figure out where this took place as the pathway does not look right to me. Can anyone answer me just where this is?

Tags
Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories

Related Articles