A boy in California is recovering after he was mauled by a mountain lion.
The attack occurred in California’s Pico Canyon Park near Santa Clarita while the 7-year-old boy was walking, according to a Wednesday report.
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“The young boy, about 7-year-old boy, was walking up some stairs and was attacked from behind by a mountain lion and bitten in the buttocks,” Capt. Patrick Foy of the California Fish and Wildlife Department said.
The injuries were non-life-threatening, and a full recovery is expected.
Officials have closed the park while an investigation into the incident takes place, according to the report.
“According to Fish and Wildlife authorities, the investigation is being carried out as if this were a confirmed attack, however, the investigation is still ongoing,” a statement from the Department of Parks and Recreation said.
The mountain lion involved in the attack has not been found, but a trap has been placed to capture the animal.
“In the trap, we placed a mountain lion’s favorite food, which is a deer carcass,” Foy said.
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If a mountain lion is caught and its DNA matches that of the DNA collected from the boy’s wounds, it will likely be put down, according to the report.
“Everything we do and every part of our mission is to better help wildlife and people coexist,” Foy said. “Having a situation like this where wild animals start attacking, especially small children, that is a super difficult part of our job.”
