Mother Saves Son from Mountain Lion Attack

PITKIN COUNTY, CO — A woman in Colorado had to "physically remove" her son from a mountain lion that attacked the 5-year-old boy.

According to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office, authorities received a 911 call just before 8 p.m. Friday from a man who said his son had been attacked by a mountain lion. The man told dispatcher he was driving his son to the hospital and disconnected the phone.

After interviewing the child's mother, authorities learned the boy had been playing outside with his older brother when the mother heard screaming coming from outside. The woman saw the mountain lion on her son and was able to "physically remove" her son from the animal.

The boy sustained injuries to his face, head and neck while the mother sustained minor injuries to her hand and legs.

Deputies along with a law enforcement official from the U.S. Forest Service responded to the residence where they located a mountain lion in the same area that had been previously described by the mother. The mountain lion was put down.

Officials with Colorado Parks and Wildlife are enroute to the scene to examine the deceased lion and attempt to locate a second lion that was reported to be in the area earlier in the day.

The 5-year-old boy is said to be in fair condition.

Lion attacks on people are rare, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Fewer than a dozen fatalities have been reported in North America over the past 100 years. Most attacks were by young lions, perhaps forced out to hunt on their own and not yet living in established areas.

The number of interactions between mountain lions and humans has increased recently due to more people moving into lion habitat,among other reasons.

Image via California Department of Fish and Wildlife Service