Officials are reporting that a 5-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion last night 10 miles northwest of Aspen, Colorado.
The boy’s father called 911 dispatchers to report that his son had been attacked by a mountain lion and he was driving to the Aspen Valley Hospital, police said in a statement.
The boy’s mother told police that the boy was playing outside with his older brother when she heard screams. The mother ran out and “physically removed her son from the mountain lion,” according to the statement.
The boy has been transferred to Children’s Hospital in Denver. He’s in fair condition with injuries to his face, head and neck. His mother was treated and released for minor injuries to her hand and legs.
After the attack, deputies and an officer with the U.S. Forest Service located a mountain lion in the area and the animal was put down, police said.
“Lion attacks on people are rare, with fewer than a dozen fatalities in North America in more than 100 years,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.
There have been 3 fatal mountain lion attacks in the state of Colorado since 1991.
*We wish this little Colorado boy a speedy recovery.