DENVER-A mother fought off a mountain lion that attacked her five-year-old son while he was playing with his older brother outside his home in western Colorado.
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Sheriff’s deputies and a law enforcement officer from the US Forest Service found the mountain lion in the front yard of the residence and put it down, the sheriff said.
After the latest incident, “the mother was able to accurately describe to deputies where the mountain lion had attacked her son”, the sheriff’s office said.
AP reported that the woman had to pry his head from the animal’s mouth.
His mother was treated for injuries to her hands and legs and released.
Aspen Valley Hospital reported the 5-year-old was in fair condition from deep cuts and has since been transported to a hospital in Denver, authorities said.
After the attack, wildlife officials found and killed two mountain lions, which are being examined. He jumped in the vehicle with his wife and son and called 911 as they sped to the Aspen hospital.
Colorado is home to up to 4,500 mountain lions, and they sometimes wander into urban areas looking for food, according to state wildlife officials.
Neighbors say that mountain lions are a common sight.
“They’re wild animals. They find habitat where they can forage for food”, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Matt Robbins said.
There have been three fatal mountain lion attacks in Colorado since 1991.
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A necropsy will be performed on the lion suspected in the attack. The man suffered scratches and bites on his back and was treated at a local clinic and released.
