5-year-old boy airlifted after mountain lion attack near picnic table

A mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy in Southern California on Sunday, resulting in the child being airlifted to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The mountain lion was euthanized as a result of the attack, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The attack took place while the child was playing near his family's picnic table at Malibu Creek State Park, which is located west of Los Angeles.

Adults charged at the wild cat, at which point it released the boy and climbed up a tree. The mountain lion was still in the tree when officials arrived and was shot and killed, determined to be a threat to the public.

While this attack took place in Southern California, similar situations have occurred in Colorado in the past. Young children tend to be a target of big cats when adults aren't nearby, but even then, attacks of this nature are quite rare.

The best advice when it comes to keeping children and pets safe from mountain lions is to not leave them unattended. Typically, the nearby presence of an adult is enough to keep a mountain lion at bay.

Additionally, removing or altering objects that could potentially hide a cat is also important. This might include large bushes, an open space under an outdoor deck, or fencing. Automatic lights can also be used to haze mountain lions away, though some mountain lions in Colorado have proven to be more brazen when it comes to lighting in recent months .

Trail encounters can also be something to consider. Generally one should make themselves look large and talk firmly to the cat, which tends to be enough to scare it off. Couple this with walking away while not breaking eye contact. If the cat pursues or is showing signs of aggression, consider throwing objects in the direction of the cat. Never crouch down and never turn and run, as this can prompt an attack. If a mountain lion attacks, fight back.

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