Cougar sighting prompts school lockdown in Coronation, Alta.
RCMP describe the wild animal's foray into town as a rare occurrence
Students were forced into a lockdown situation at Coronation School after a cougar was spotted roaming around the small Alberta town on Monday.
RCMP said the cougar was first reported in the vicinity of the Coronation Hospital shortly after noon and Mounties quickly confirmed the animal's presence.
"Coronation School was immediately notified and locked down while police searched and notified residents in the area where the cougar was last seen travelling," RCMP said in a release.
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Alberta Fish and Wildlife was notified but officers were unable to get to the town before the cougar left the area.
The school lockdown was lifted once RCMP confirmed the cougar was gone, and no further sightings were reported to police.
Coronation is about 300 kilometres northeast of Calgary.