Mountain Lion Attacks Child, Prompting LA County Park Closure

SANTA CLARITA, CA — A 7-year-old child was attacked by a mountain lion in Pico Canyon Park in the Stevenson Ranch area of Los Angeles County Monday. The attack prompted the closure of the park as wildlife officials investigated Tuesday.

"Pico Canyon Park is temporarily closed. An aggressive mountain lion has been sighted in the area," the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department announced Tuesday. "An investigation led by Fish and Wildlife is ongoing. If you see a mountain lion in the area, call 911."

The child's injuries are not considered life-threatening, according to officials.

Authorities did not release details about the attack or the victim beyond the child's age. The park will be closed until further notice, according to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the investigation "is being carried out as if this were a confirmed attack."

Mountain lion attacks are exceptionally rare in California and especially in Los Angeles where state wildlife officials have only confirmed two mountain lion attacks. Neither of the confirmed Los Angeles County attacks were fatal.

The most recent attack involved a 5-year-old boy who was attacked in the yard of a Calabasas home in 2021. He was rescued from the lion by his mother, who fought off the lion as it attempted to drag her son away.

Prior to that, Los Angeles County hadn't seen a mountain lion attack since 199f when a 27-year-old man was attacked in the San Gabriel Mountains, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

According to the department, there have been three fatal mountain lion attacks confirmed in California since the 1980s.

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