A seemingly perfect Labor Day picnic in a Malibu State Creek Park quickly turned into a nightmare for a California family when their young son was attacked by a mountain lion, only to be rescued by his brave father who fought off the big cat. The harrowing incident took place at the Tapia Day Use Area of the Malibu State Creek Park in Calabasas on Sunday afternoon around 4:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
The family, consisting of at least six adults and several children, were relaxing and enjoying their picnic when a mountain lion suddenly appeared and grabbed the 5-year-old boy by the head with the intent to run off. The boy’s aunt recounted to KTLA5 that “somebody screamed the baby’s name, and his dad started running.” Displaying immense courage in the face of danger, the child’s father managed to grab the mountain lion with his hands and fought back against the beast. Miraculously, the mountain lion let go of the young boy as a result of this struggle.
As many as 40 onlookers bore witness to the horrifying encounter, some of whom told KTLA that the mountain lion appeared completely fearless during the attack. Male mountain lions can weigh up to 150 pounds and extend up to 8 feet in length, making them a formidable opponent for even an experienced hunter.
Following the attack, the boy was promptly airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where he received treatment for his non-life-threatening injuries. He was released late Sunday evening but had to return to the hospital on Monday due to complications arising from injuries sustained in the attack, particularly affecting his eyes.
Upon receiving news of the incident, California State Park rangers and officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife quickly arrived at the scene of the attack. The mountain lion was found crouched up in a tree close to where the picnic took place. Due to the threat posed to public safety, the CDFW stated that the animal was euthanized by a ranger.
Wildlife officers also collected evidence from the boy’s injuries, including DNA swabs taken from bite marks that were subsequently matched to the mountain lion in question. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife expressed gratitude for the safe recovery of the family, as well as the child’s ongoing recuperation.
No further details have been released regarding the incident at this time; however, it serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of staying vigilant while enjoying outdoor activities in areas known to harbor wildlife.
