A mountain lion was shot and killed by a ranger in Tapia Park after attacking a five-year-old boy. Several families were picnicking in the park Sunday when at approximately 4:20 pm a mountain lion grabbed the child and ran off with him in his mouth. The child’s father ran after them and the cougar released the child and ran up a nearby tree. After consulting with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the ranger shot the animal. The boy, who was airlifted to a local hospital, sustained “significant but non-life-threatening injuries.” The local community and environmental groups were shaken by the broad-daylight attack. Cougar attacks are rare, but three years ago a small boy was attacked off Malibu Canyon Road. If you see a mountain lion, says Tiffany Yap, senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity, make yourself appear bigger, make noise, and even throw things at it. “Make your presence known. If you have children nearby or a small dog, you should pick them up. And you never want to run. You should back away slowly,” she said. Environmentalists say the new wildlife bridge at Liberty Canyon could remove cougars from urban areas and allow them to move more freely, though some residents believe it will bring them more into the community.
