What we now know about the mountain lion that injured boy at Malibu Creek State Park

Published Sep 16, 2024 4:55 PM

A sign reads: Malibu Creek State Park Reagan Ranch A California State Park

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Topline:

The mountain lion that attacked a 5-year-old boy in a rare incident at Malibu Creek State Park was a slightly underweight female estimated to be a year old.

Why it matters: The mountain was nearly 53 pounds, which is about 3 to 5 pounds below the average weight for an animal that age, and didn’t have anything in its stomach. It also tested negative for rabies, didn’t have mange or obvious signs of illness, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Why now: The animal was euthanized following the incident, and the necropsy results are now complete.

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The backstory: The boy was attacked while his family was having a picnic at the Tapia Park Public Use Area earlier this month in an “exceedingly rare incident,” Patrick Foy, captain with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s law enforcement division, previously told LAist.

The National Park Service asks people in areas where mountain lions live to follow these safety precautions:
- Do not jog or hike alone. Go in groups with adults supervising children.
- Keep children close to you. Do not allow children to play along river banks, in heavy vegetation, or alone at dawn or dusk. When hiking with children, watch them closely and never let them run ahead of you. Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children.
If you encounter a lion, remember the goals are to convince it that you are not prey and that you may be dangerous. Follow these safety tips:
- Do not approach a lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so that they don't panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
- Do not crouch down or bend over. A human standing up is just not the right shape for a lion's prey. Conversely, a person squatting or bending over resembles a four-legged prey animal. In mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.
- Fight back if attacked. A hiker in southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.

Go deeper: Read more about the mountain lion attack.