Current:Home > StocksMountain lion attacks boy at California picnic; animal later euthanized with firearm -Elite Financial Minds
Mountain lion attacks boy at California picnic; animal later euthanized with firearm
View
Date:2025-04-14 02:33:42
A mountain lion attacked and severely injured a five-year-old boy during a family picnic at a Los Angeles County park, leading to official's decision to euthanize the animal.
The attack occurred Sunday around 4 p.m. local time at the Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. At least six adults were participating at the outing when the cougar approached the vicinity of a few children playing nearby.
The cougar scratched and bit the young boy, refusing to release him until one or more adults charged at it, the department said in a statement.
First responders airlifted the child to the Northridge Hospital Medical Center to be treated for severe, but non-life-threatening injuries. Medical staff cleared him early Monday morning.
Lion fatally shot after deemed threat to public safety
Moments after the attack, the mountain lion climbed up a nearby tree where it stayed until park rangers arrived, the department said.
After consulting with wildlife officers, rangers deemed that the panther was "a threat to public safety." A ranger killed the animal with a firearm.
"Officials are thankful that the family is safe, and the child is recovering and no one else was injured," the statement reads.
What to know about Arielle Valdes:Florida runner found dead after 5-day search
Mountain lion mauled two brothers in March
Earlier this year, a mountain lion mauled two brothers in a remote forest area about 15 miles north of Placerville, a small city located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.
Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21, was killed while hiking with his brother Wyatt Brooks, 18, in the small community of Georgetown, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office confirmed. The siblings are from Mount Aukum, California − about 35 miles south of where the attack occurred.
Wildlife experts later tracked the cougar to a tree it climbed and killed it, according to the sheriff's office.
How big are mountain lions?
Sometimes called pumas and panthers, mountain lions usually weigh between 75-175 pounds and grown adults can stand as tall as 30 inches in height and 8 feet in length, according to the National Park Service.
The largest ever to be documented weighed 276 pounds, the U.S. federal agency says on its website. They mostly feed deer, according to wildlife experts, but eat other animals including elk and mice.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund
veryGood! (89686)
Related
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- Having a family is expensive. Here’s what Harris and Trump have said about easing costs
- Kelsea Ballerini Shares Her Dog Dibs Has Inoperable Heart Cancer
- Georgia’s former first lady and champion of literacy has school named in her honor
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Crews work to restore power to more than 300,000 Michigan homes, businesses after storms
- Mae Whitman Gives Birth, Names Her First Baby After Parenthood Costar
- What’s hot in theaters? Old movies — and some that aren’t so old
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- 'Beloved' father who was clearing storm drains identified as victim of Alaska landslide
Ranking
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Crews work to restore power to more than 300,000 Michigan homes, businesses after storms
- Stefanos Tsitsipas exits US Open: 'I'm nothing compared to the player I was before'
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Found Art
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Wisconsin sheriff investigating homicide at aging maximum security prison
- Nvidia is Wall Street’s 2nd-most valuable company. How it keeps beating expectations, by the numbers
- Golden Globes tap Nikki Glaser to be the telecast’s next host
Recommendation
Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
Questions about the safety of Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ system are growing
Tori Spelling Shares Why She's Dressing 7-Year-Old Son Beau in School Clothes Before Bed
How safe are luxury yachts? What to know after Mike Lynch yacht disaster left 7 dead
The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
Errant ostrich brings traffic to a halt in South Dakota after escaping from a trailer
Searchers find a missing plane and human remains in Michigan’s Lake Huron after 17 years
2024 Paralympics: Kate Middleton and Prince William Share Royally Sweet Message Ahead of Games