Authorities continue to lay traps, search for mountain lion that attacked boy

CUPERTINO, Calif. (KGO) -- Biologists searching for the mountain lion that attacked a 6-year-old boy in Cupertino over the weekend brought in a fourth trap Tuesday morning to try and capture the aggressive animal. They also moved one trap to another, hopefully better location, but said it's hard to guess where the mountain lion will be, or if he is even still in the area.

They also added four more dogs to the hunt, so with seven dogs and four traps they are trying to close in on the animal. The mountain lion will euthanized if found.

"There are certainly tracks, scents the dogs are following, but lions don't move in a linear fashion. They crisscross and the path goes back and forth over itself, so sometimes the dogs are going in circles," said Kirsten Macintyre of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. "We just don't know if it's still in the area at this point all we can do is keep looking."

The attack happened on a hiking trail in the Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve near the historic Picchetti Winery around 1 p.m. Sunday. The boy was hiking with his parents on a trail about a mile from the winery. He was about 15 feet ahead when the mountain lion grabbed him. The boy's father and another man ran at the mountain lion, shouting and chased it away. The boy's family was with another family so, the mountain lion attacked with 10 people around.

The boy suffered bite marks to his head, neck and shoulders. He was treated at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose was released Monday morning and is now recovering at home with his parents. His family is in seclusion and does not want to speak publicly.

Biologists say this kind of attack is very unusual and they are determined to find the animal. They have even involved the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's lab in Sacramento.

"They're testing hair samples and saliva so they can extract the DNA and if we do catch a cat down here they can match it and make sure we have the right one," Macintyre said. "It's highly unlikely we will get the wrong one because the dogs are tracking a particular scent and the dogs will let us know if it is the right cat but still we want to double check and make sure."

The last time a mountain lion attacked a person in the state was two years ago and that search lasted for six days and never found the animal.

There are signs in front of the trail that do caution hikers that the area is mountain lion habitat and the hiking trail is closed. The winery is still open, but people in the area are being asked to be on alert.

The San Mateo County sheriff's office is warning people about another new mountain lion sighting in Woodside, 20 miles from where the 6-year-old was attacked.

The adult mountain lion and three cubs were seen in popular Wunderlich County Park just before 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The big cats are often most dangerous when they're with their young.

The sheriff and county park rangers say avoid hiking or jogging at dusk and dawn.

Anyone who encounters a mountain lion is advised to not run away but confront the cat by making noises, throwing objects and trying to appear larger.

More information on mountain lions is available online by visiting www.keepmewild.org.