CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The owner of a tiger on the loose in Pocahontas County put the animal down Monday afternoon, said Hoy Murphy, spokesman for the state Division of Natural Resources.

David Cassell of Cass found the tiger and killed it, Murphy said. Murphy was not sure where or how the animal was killed. He was waiting for a conservation officer's report Monday evening.

The animal had been on the loose for several hours when it was killed at about 4 p.m. 

While Murphy said the snowmaking crew at Snowshoe Mountain Resort saw the big cat on Monday morning, resort spokeswoman Laura Parquette said the tiger had not been seen on Snowshoe's property.

Parquette said Cassell shot and killed the tiger on Monongahela National Forest land six to seven miles east of the resort.

 Cassell, who works at Mountain Lodge on Snowshoe Mountain, was trying to find the animal and tranquilize it, Murphy said earlier in the day. Security personnel at Snowshoe were also looking for the animal, he said.

"We have a conservation officer on his way there now. ... Normally this isn't the kind of wildlife we deal with," Murphy said Monday afternoon.

Cassell had a permit for the animal, he said.

In May 2006, an Asian brown bear owned by Cassell escaped into the wild after someone cut the lock to its enclosure. The 400-pound bruin has not been seen since.

Meanwhile Monday, skiers and snowboarders took advantage of a fresh coating of snow that dusted the 26 trails now open at Snowshoe Mountain.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The owner of a tiger on the loose in Pocahontas County put the animal down Monday afternoon, said Hoy Murphy, spokesman for the state Division of Natural Resources.

David Cassell of Cass found the tiger and killed it, Murphy said. Murphy was not sure where or how the animal was killed. He was waiting for a conservation officer's report Monday evening.

The animal had been on the loose for several hours when it was killed at about 4 p.m. 

While Murphy said the snowmaking crew at Snowshoe Mountain Resort saw the big cat on Monday morning, resort spokeswoman Laura Parquette said the tiger had not been seen on Snowshoe's property.

Parquette said Cassell shot and killed the tiger on Monongahela National Forest land six to seven miles east of the resort.

 Cassell, who works at Mountain Lodge on Snowshoe Mountain, was trying to find the animal and tranquilize it, Murphy said earlier in the day. Security personnel at Snowshoe were also looking for the animal, he said.

"We have a conservation officer on his way there now. ... Normally this isn't the kind of wildlife we deal with," Murphy said Monday afternoon.

Cassell had a permit for the animal, he said.

In May 2006, an Asian brown bear owned by Cassell escaped into the wild after someone cut the lock to its enclosure. The 400-pound bruin has not been seen since.

Meanwhile Monday, skiers and snowboarders took advantage of a fresh coating of snow that dusted the 26 trails now open at Snowshoe Mountain.