Young California resident, aged five, triumphs over the statistics after surviving an assault by a mountain lion.

Young California resident, aged five, triumphs over the statistics after surviving an assault by a mountain lion.

In a shocking incident, a 5-year-old boy named Jack was attacked by a mountain lion near Half Moon Bay, California. The attack occurred around 6:50 pm on Tunitas Creek Road, as Jack and his mother were hiking near their farm.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is currently investigating the incident, aiming to find the big cat responsible. According to preliminary findings, the attacking lion might be one of the two cubs frequently seen in the area with their mother.

To aid in the investigation, the CDFW will collect a DNA sample from Jack's clothes and wounds. If a matching DNA sample is found, the lion will be removed. The officer's team will also search the area for mountain lions.

The Bay Area Puma Project, an advocacy group, is educating nearby residents on how to live safely with lions. Their advice aligns with that of the CDFW:

• Stay calm and do not run if you see a mountain lion. Running may trigger a chase response. Instead, make yourself appear larger by raising your arms or opening a jacket, and back away slowly while maintaining eye contact with the animal.
• Travel in groups and keep children and pets close and leashed. Mountain lions are less likely to approach groups. Avoid hiking or outdoor activity at dawn, dusk, or night, when mountain lions are more active.
• Report all mountain lion sightings immediately to the CDFW. Use CDFW’s online Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) system to help track and monitor mountain lion activity to better manage human-wildlife coexistence.

These measures reflect CDFW’s non-lethal conflict prevention priorities and the Bay Area Puma Project’s focus on reducing human-wildlife conflicts while preserving mountain lion populations through education and responsible coexistence strategies.

Despite his injuries, Jack's spirit remains intact. He sustained wounds, battle lacerations on his face, cuts, bruises, scratches, and a fracture close to his eye. However, Foy, the investigating officer, stated that while Jack's injuries were traumatic, they were not severe. In the event of an attack, Foy suggested fighting back as if one's life depended on it. Jack's mother's actions during the attack were confirmed to be correct by Foy.

As a testament to their resilience, Jack's family runs a program for the area's homeless population on their farm and a program that serves underprivileged students. A GoFundMe has been set up for Jack and his family to help them during this difficult time.

Since 1986, there have been 21 mountain lion attacks in California, with 10 of those involving children. While such incidents are extremely rare, it underscores the importance of staying alert outdoors, maintaining group presence, keeping pets leashed, and promptly reporting sightings to the CDFW.

1. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has included the 'general-news' category of a 'crime-and-justice' nature in their ongoing investigation of the mountain lion attack on Jack, a 5-year-old boy in Half Moon Bay, California.
2. As a proactive measure against future encounters, the Bay Area Puma Project, an advocacy group, advises residents to be vigilant about 'sports' activities, especially outdoor activities during dawn, dusk, or night, when mountain lions are more active, to reduce potential human-wildlife conflicts.

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