An 8-year-old was attacked by a cougar while camping in Olympic National Park on Saturday, park officials said.
Around 6:30 p.m., a cougar attacked a child as he and his family were camping on Lake Angeles in Olympic National Park. After being yelled at by the child’s mother, the cougar “blindly abandoned the attack” and the child suffered minor injuries, according to a statement from the National Park Service (NPS). said. The child’s injuries were non-life-threatening, but authorities took him to a local hospital for further examination and evacuated him from the campsite, the statement said. (Related: 9-year-old girl survives fight with cougar in Washington)
According to the National Park Service, the cougar “casually abandoned” the attack after its mother yelled at it. https://t.co/v2i76BoiJK
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“Due to the extreme nature of this incident, we are closing several trails in and around the Lake Angeles area. The entire Ridge Trail is closed until further notice,” said Olympic National Park wildlife biologist Tom Kaye.
Authorities tracked the cougar from its last known location near the lake the next day. Attacks on humans are “very rare,” according to the NPS, so when spotted, wildlife personnel and Parks Service law enforcement will euthanize the cougar and determine what caused the attack. An autopsy will be performed to find out.
“That rarely happens and it’s a sign of very anomalous behavior,” said Amos Almy, deputy spokesperson for Olympic National Park. Said King 5 news.
“Some extreme measures have to be taken when such an animal is behaving very abnormally, which unfortunately results in the cougar being euthanized if found. It’s also important to remember, we’re park rangers and wildlife biologists, and we don’t enjoy killing wild animals, which is why we signed this job. No. But in a situation like this, it’s justified,” Almy continued.
All of Olympic National Park is considered cougar habitat, so officials warn visitors to the park to be prepared for encounters. “Visitors are advised not to hike or jog alone and keep children within sight and close to adults. Please leave pets at home and be aware of your surroundings when hiking. ‘ said the official.
Park officials advise visitors to form groups if they see a cougar, keep an eye on the animal and make loud noises to deter an attack. Throwing rocks and objects to keep the cougars at bay is also recommended, officials said.