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California is a state known for its expansive and varied natural beauty. It is a place over 39 million people share with a vast array of wildlife from bears to elk to wolves and everything in between. With such a massive population, humans and animals are bound to come in contact with one another from time to time. Unfortunately for one Los Angeles County family, that encounter occurred with the elusive and fearsome mountain lion, the most widely distributed apex predator in North America.
What started as a fun family picnic quickly turned to tragedy late in the afternoon on September 1, 2024. While playing in close proximity to his parents and other children, a mountain lion stalked and planned its ambush attack in the distance. Out of nowhere, it struck a five-year-old boy, dragging him off and biting and clawing the boy’s face and chest, to the utter dismay of friends and family. The unprompted attack took place at 4:21 p.m. local time Sunday in Malibu Creek State Park, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The child had “significant but non-life-threatening injuries,” according to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Since the attack, the five-year-old seems to be recovering well and has been released back to his Woodland Hills home.
Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated that ”one or more adults charged at the lion,” and it released the boy. The youth was immediately airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center and was released early Monday. After the attack, the lion retreated to a nearby tree, where it hid until California Park rangers arrived. Samples from the boy’s wounds were taken and matched up with the mountain lion found hiding in the park, and the creature was deemed a “threat to public safety” by CDFW wildlife officers.
As a result of the attack, game officials came to the conclusion the lion was a threat to the public. Being located in a state park so close to human habitation, a further incident was deemed possible. The lion was quickly dispatched via firearm to prevent any further attacks or damages.
Though a tragic incident, these types of mountain lion attacks are extremely rare. Statistically speaking, a person is 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion. Since 1890, there have been less than 50 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California; of that, only six have been fatal. In most cases, the person was alone when the attack occurred. The CDFW Human-Wildlife Conflicts Program and Mountain Lion Conservation Program work together to develop strategies to address the risk of mountain lions on the landscape using diverse tools and the best available science.
