Police and conservation officers have captured a young female cougar that somehow found itself in a dense Victoria neighbourhood Friday afternoon.

The cougar was spotted in the Gorge neighbourhood in the 100-block of Gorge Road East.

Firefighters, police and conservation officers responded at approximately 4:30 p.m. and used dogs to track the big cat.

It was located up in a tree where it was safely tranquilized and captured at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Two officers on the scene described the cougar as a "young and frightened" cat that was well-nourished.