- Shelby White, 11, killed her first cougar on her grandfather's ranch in Twisp, Washington, last week
- Female cougar had been spotted near family's home twice in the days prior to the shooting
- Shelby's 9-year-old brother, Cody, shot a 125-pound cougar earlier this month
- Tanner White, 13, Shelby and Cody's oldest brother, killed a big cat near the ranch around same time
- Shelby has been hunting since she was 8 or 9, and so far she has bagged herself three deer
- State officials and hunters killed 10 other cougars during the winter season
When Thomas White spotted a cougar approaching his teenage son outside their home in rural Washington state last week, there was only one thing to do - hand a gun to his 11-year-old daughter.
Without a moment's hesitation, Shelby White killed the female cougar, and wildlife officials suggested that the animal may have been sick.
The mountain cat was 4 years old and weighed about 50lbs, which is about half of what an animal that age should weigh.
Fearless: Shelby White, 11, is posing with a cougar she shot dead last week on her grandfather's propertyMy, what big teeth you have! Shelby is showing off the teeth of the predator that was stalking her 13-year-old brother
Family hobby: Shelby (left) has been hunting with her trusty .234 caliber gun since age 8 or 9, and her younger brother Cody (right) is also an enthusiast of the sport
'This cougar was very, very skinny,' State Fish and Wildlife Officer Cal Treser said.
The fearless 11-year-old took action when she saw the cougar following her 13-year-old brother as he was walking towards their home in the town of Twisp, population 940.
In a phone interview with MailOnline Wednesday night, Shelby’s grandfather, William White, revealed that it was a fourth cougar killed on his property in the past several weeks.
Mr White, 64, a cattle rancher, said that earlier this month, Shelby’s 13-year-old brother, Tanner, also shot a cougar that has been circling his farm.
‘We're real avid hunters,’ Mr White said of his clan, which he described as 'backwoodsy.' .
The rancher explained that until recently,