Screaming mom scares off mountain lion attacking her child at WA campsite, rangers say
A mom scared off a mountain lion as it attacked her 8-year-old child Saturday evening, park rangers in Washington reported.
The animal attacked the child at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29, while the family was camping at Lake Angeles, the Olympic National Park said in a news release.
The animal ran off when the child’s mother yelled at it, officials said.
Park officials said they helped the family return to the trailhead, and the child was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Campers then evacuated the area near the lake, which is about 15 miles south of Port Angeles, in the northernmost part of the park.
“Due to the extreme nature of this incident, we are closing the Lake Angeles area and several trails in the vicinity,” wildlife biologist Tom Kay said in the news release.
Wildlife officials began searching for the mountain lion Sunday but had not found it Monday. The animal will be euthanized once it’s found, park rangers said.
A necropsy will determine what factors led the animal to attack the child because “cougars are rarely seen and attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare.”
The Olympic National Park is known as “cougar territory.”
What to know about mountain lions
Mountain lions are also referred to as cougars, pumas and panthers.
They are solitary, elusive animals, according to the National Park Service. The chances of seeing a mountain lion are slim, but people can encounter them.
“Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk,” park rangers said. “However, lions are unpredictable and can be dangerous.”
If you see a mountain lion, experts advise you:
- Don’t approach it: Mountain lions usually want to avoid confrontation.
- Don’t run: It could stimulate their chase instincts.
- Stand tall: Face the mountain lion and make eye contact.
- Keep children close: If a mountain lion is approaching, pick up small children so they don’t panic or run.
- Don’t crouch or bend over: A mountain lion could perceive you as prey.
- Fight back: If a mountain lion attacks, use rocks, sticks, jackets or anything you can get your hands on to fight back.
This story was originally published July 31, 2023 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Screaming mom scares off mountain lion attacking her child at WA campsite, rangers say."
