Cougar that attacked child in Squamish was a yearling

The cougar killed after an attack on a three-year-old Squamish child on Tuesday night was little more than a cub.

A necropsy done by the provincial veterinarian confirmed the cougar was just over 12 months-old.

“It was a young cougar that was probably inexperienced at hunting,” said Squamish conservation officer Chris Doyle. “[Young cougars] may be hungry and they are looking for a new place to survive.”

Cougars leave their mothers between 10-14 months, said Paul Beier, a researcher at Northern Arizona University, who has been studying cougars for nearly two decades.