Game wardens continue search for mountain lion that attacked boy in Cupertino
CUPERTINO, Calif. (KGO) -- Authorities are continuing to search for a mountain lion in Cupertino that sent a 6-year-old boy to the hospital Sunday afternoon. Two game wardens and one USDA wildlife official spent the night in the park and were searching again Monday morning. An officer said the animal is likely to attack again if it is not caught. The mountain lion will be tracked with blood hounds Monday and will euthanized if found.
The attack happened on a hiking trail in the Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve near the historic Picchetti Winery around 1:00 p.m. on 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 search team and their hounds have seen tracks that appear to be from the same mountain lion in a drainage area of the canyon where the boy was attacked. Game warden Travis Jarrett was with the dogs all night. "It feels very comfortable in that specific area," Jarrett said, referring to the mountain lion. "We've cut tracks going uphill and down the hill and also a few tracks that are fairly fresh."
The searchers will bring in fresh dogs Monday night and traps with roadkill carcasses.
Search continues for mountain lion who attacked boy
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.
Rangers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife say his mom and dad fought off the cougar.
"The cat did make contact with the boy, did end up taking him into a brushy area and his parents did fight the animal off and the boy's in the hospital right now," Jarrett said.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials are working with park rangers to find the animal. Officials are searching the Picchetti Open Space Preserve and part of Stevens Creek County Park and will continue into the night. Hiking trails in those areas are closed to the public.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials will test the boy's clothes for DNA to make sure they find the right mountain lion. "We could conclusively demonstrate that this was the animal which attacked the child," said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lt. Patrick Foy. "If it is, we'd euthanize it and if not, we'd let it go."
There are signs in front of the trail that do caution hikers that the area is mountain lion habitat.
The winery is still opened, but people in the area are being asked to be on alert.
Visitors to the winery had mixed feelings about going hiking.
"I'm not too worried just hanging out at the winery, I feel like pretty safe as long as you follow safety standards," a visitor said.
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.
