We’ve all heard of the dangers of wild animals, but a recent attack on a 5-year-old boy in Northern California has highlighted just how real the threat can be. On Tuesday, the boy was on a hiking trail when a mountain lion pounced on him and pinned him to the ground. Luckily, his mother was able to scare the animal away and the boy was only left with scratches and a fractured bone near his eye.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed that the attack was indeed caused by a mountain lion, but the search for the animal has been called off due to lack of access to private property near the attack site and the nomadic nature of mountain lions.
Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, with only 20 confirmed attacks in California in more than a century of record-keeping, and only three of those being fatal. The last incident before Tuesday’s occurred in September when a cougar attacked a 7-year-old boy in Pico Canyon Park in Los Angeles County. The child survived that attack, as did the 5-year-old boy in this recent incident.
It’s important to remember that while wild animals can be beautiful and majestic, they can also be dangerous. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and to take precautions when in nature.
Source: www.nbcbayarea.com