Wildlife officers shot and killed a cougar near a Calgary hospital Thursday morning.

Police told CTV News they tried to tranquilize the animal that was lying in tall grass, but it leaped up so they had to shoot it.

"One cougar has been destroyed by officers," said Alberta government spokesperson Brendan Cox. He added that cats can become agitated and run off when shot with a tranquilizer dart.

The animal was spotted near the entrance of the South Calgary Hospital Thursday morning. The animal was also seen lying in the grass near the south side of the building. Police and Fish and Wildlife officers quickly arrived on the scene. Before it was shot dead, officials put the hospital in lockdown, advised residents to avoid the area and spent more than two hours looking for the big cat.

Officers are looking into reports of a second cougar in the area.

"The other one, we had reported sightings of it but officers haven't confirmed those sightings yet," said Cox. "We are not sure 100 per cent if there is a second cougar."

With files from The Canadian Press