Photo: ANDRES PINA/ATON CHILE / AFP / Getty Images
A 7-year-old boy was injured after being attacked by a mountain lion Monday in the Pico Canyon Park area, in the town of Stevenson Ranch, reported the authorities.
The minor suffered injuries that were not life-threatening .
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation closed the park temporarily, while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducts an investigation on this incident.
Pico Canyon Park is temporarily closed. An aggressive mountain lion has been seen in the area. This situation is being investigated by Fish and Wildlife. If you see a mountain lion in the area, please call 911. pic.twitter.com/iECw9YnE58
—Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation (@lacountyparks) September , 1208083254
Capt. Patrick Foy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the boy was walking up some stairs when the mountain lion came up from behind and bit him.
The father of the little boy was able to scare the animal.
Due to the attack, Pico Canyon Park will remain closed until further notice due to the presence of an “aggressive” mountain lion in the area, he said the Department of Parks and Recreation in a press release.
Samples were taken of DNA from the child’s bite wounds to try to compare it to a known feline. Meanwhile, authorities are searching for the mountain lion.
In case the feline is found and the DNA matches the boy’s bite marks , it is very likely that the mountain lion will have to be euthanized.
“Everything we do in every part of our mission is to better help wildlife and people coexist. Having a situation like this, where wild animals start attacking, especially young children, is a very difficult part of our job,” Foy acknowledged.
Residents in the Stevenson Ranch area reported seeing a mountain lion in recent weeks and were concerned about their pets, but few thought it could attack a human.
“It still terrifies me because it could happen to me,” said Francisco Salas, a Santa Clarita resident who frequently visits the trails that run through the park. “It could happen to anyone here,” said Hispanic Francisco Salas, a resident of Santa Clarita who frequently visits the trails of Pico Canyon Park.
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