Cougar traps are set in the Tappen Valley area after one of the big cats killed a Shetland Pony last weekend.
Tanner Beck, an officer with the BC Conservation Service, says they were called to the area last Saturday after the pony was found mauled to death by the owners and determined that a large cat was the culprit.
'We've set traps, but nothing has returned to the area so far," said Beck, who notes the big cats are always around in the Shuswap.
"They are opportunistic predators, so if they spot a chance as they are moving around, they will take it," said Beck.
He says humans are not generally at risk because they appear much different than the cougar's usual prey, but he notes residents should be careful with pets and livestock.
"Don't let them free range and keep them indoors or protected, especially at dusk and into the night. That's when these animals tend to be actively hunting."
If the animal is not trapped in the next few days, Beck says they will surmise that the animal has moved on and will remove the traps.