Young girl is mauled by mountain lion in California wilderness

Young girl is mauled by mountain lion in California wilderness

In a shocking incident on Sunday, an 11-year-old girl was attacked by a mountain lion near her home in Malibu, California. The attack took place around 5:40-5:45 p.m. near Pacific Coast Highway and Encinal Canyon Road in the 32500 block of Pacific Coast Highway.

The girl was feeding chickens by a chicken coop when the wild cat attacked her from behind. The mountain lion bit her on the arm, leg, and lower back and chased her mother and sibling before being scared off by the sound of a stun gun.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and provided first aid to the injured child. The girl was later transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment, where she received care for her non-life-threatening injuries.

Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded to the incident. The mountain lion was later found hiding on the property behind the home and was euthanized.

DNA tests are being conducted to confirm if the euthanized lion is the same animal that attacked the girl. Authorities have taken a piece of the girl's clothes for DNA comparison with the mountain lion's DNA, which is being processed for examination at a forensic laboratory in Sacramento.

Mountain lion attacks on humans in California are rare. Since 1986, there have been only 27 confirmed attacks, mostly nonfatal. A recent fatal mountain lion attack occurred in March 2024 in Northern California.

Local residents have expressed concern but also emphasised the importance of coexistence and awareness regarding mountain lions in the area. The CDFW's spokesperson, Mr. Peter Tira, reported the incident.

It is important to note that the mountain lion's actions were not provoked by any known prior interaction with humans or pets. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are investigating the incident further.

We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the girl and her family during this difficult time.

1. "Mr. Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), reported the recent mountain lion attack on a girl in Malibu, California."
2. "The girl's non-life-threatening injuries were treated at a nearby hospital, with emergency crews providing first aid at the scene."
3. "DNA tests are being conducted on the mountain lion found on the property to confirm if it was the one that attacked the girl, with authorities taking a piece of the girl's clothes for DNA comparison."
4. "Local residents have expressed concern about mountain lion attacks in their area, but also emphasized the importance of coexistence and awareness regarding these animals, especially since mountain lion attacks on humans in California are quite rare."

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