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Mountain Lion Likely Followed Family After Attacking Boy

CUPERTINO (CBS SF) - The family of a 6-year-old boy who was mauled by a mountain lion on a popular South Bay hiking trail Sunday may have been fortunate to escape another attack.

The boy was discharged this morning from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, a day after he was admitted in serious condition to the center's pediatric trauma unit. He quickly improved to fair and then good condition, hospital spokeswoman Joy Alexiou said.

The boy was hiking about 10 feet in front of his family around 1 p.m. at the Picchetti Ranch Zinfandel Trail in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District when the mountain lion jumped and attacked him from a hidden position, according to Lt. Patrick Foy of the law enforcement division of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The lion bit down firmly on the boy's neck and head and started to drag him away into some brush, Foy said.

Two men ran toward the lion while shouting aggressively and the cat let the boy go and ran away, according to Foy.

"When the attack was over, the dad was thankfully able to drive the lion away from the son," said Foy. "He picked up the son and carried him back to the car and we ultimately found tracks and scent evidence to suggest that the lion followed them back to the car."

The Department of Fish and Wildlife says the probability of another attack is very high. At sunrise, they hit the scent trail again with four dogs that are specially trained to hunt down mountain lions. However, attacks are very rare — there have been 16 since 1890.

"These animals are quite powerful and absolutely cold have killed this little boy, so he's very lucky to be alive," said Foy.

TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

 

 

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