Posted at: 04/23/2009 4:46 PM
By: The Associated Press

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Cougar removed from yard of Santa Fe-area home

State officials say it is not uncommon to find cougars at rural homes

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A cougar lounging in the courtyard of a rural Santa Fe-area home was shot with a tranquilizer and later killed.

Game warden Desi Ortiz says the animal showed no fear when he arrived at the Eldorado subdivision home Monday, and stared back at him as he positioned himself with the tranquilizer gun.

He hit the 100-pound female mountain lion in the hind leg with a tranquilizer, and she jumped over the courtyard wall and disappeared. He got a call a short time later about a cougar staggering into the courtyard of another nearby home.

The state Game and Fish Department says the original plan was to move the animal to the Jemez Mountains, but she was euthanized after officials determined she was too dangerous to be released.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)