Over the weekend, a mountain lion that attacked a 5-year-old boy in Malibu Creek State Park, Southern California, was euthanized by state rangers, officials reported on Tuesday.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) confirmed that the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon while the boy was playing near a picnic table with other children about 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Witnesses described how “one or more adults charged at the lion,” prompting it to release the child.
The boy’s aunt shared details with KTLA, saying, “Somebody screamed the baby’s name, and his dad started running. The father grabbed the mountain lion and fought back, and then the cat let go.”
Thankfully, the boy was airlifted to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was released on Monday.
The CDFW stated that the mountain lion remained in a tree until rangers came. After assessing the situation with wildlife officers, they deemed the lion a public safety threat and euthanized it.
Officials expressed their gratitude that the family is safe and that no one else was harmed. CDFW also notes that mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, stating “a person is a thousand times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion.” Since 1890, there have only been fewer than 50 verified mountain lion attacks in California, including six fatalities.
The Santa Monica Mountains, home to California’s Malibu Creek State Park, has around 10-15 adult and subadult mountain lions, alongside kittens. This population is increasingly challenged by habitat loss due to development and fragmentation caused by major freeways.
While such attacks are uncommon, CDFW provides several tips for safely navigating encounters with mountain lions:
- Stay vigilant on trails, keep pets leashed, and walk with small children.
- Don’t approach mountain lions; always give them an escape route.
- Remain calm—don’t run or turn your back.
- Face the animal, make noise, and appear larger by raising your arms. If you have small children, lift them up.
- Avoid crouching or bending over.