Authorities said they killed a mountain lion after it attacked an 11-year-old girl outside a home in California.
The girl, who has not been identified, was attending to chores with her family’s chickens outside a home in Malibu around 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 10 when the mountain lion attacked and bit her, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“She sustained injuries to her arm, leg and lower back and her parents took her to the hospital,” CDFW Andrew Halverson told USA TODAY over email, adding “she is expected to be OK.”
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said in a statement to USA TODAY it responded to a call about a juvenile that was attacked by a mountain lion while Los Angeles County Fire officials provided medical aid to the victim. However, the department did not offer additional information on the victim’s condition.
Halverson said the lion, a young male adult, was “located in the immediate area” and euthanized.
While DNA testing is still pending, the department is “near certain the offending lion” was the one euthanized, based on witness statements, Halverson said.
How often are people attacked, killed by mountain lions in California?
Attacks by mountain lions on people are relatively rare occurrences in California.
Since 1986, the CDFW has documented 27 such incidents. Four of them were deadly, with victims between the ages of 21 and 56, according to state data.
The most recent attack took place on June 14, when a worker was attacked and injured by a lion at a summer camp in Trinity County, CBS reported at the time.
The most recent fatal attack took place in March of 2024, when a 21-year-old man was fatally mauled in a remote portion of El Dorado County.
4-year-old child attacked by mountain lion in Washington
The Aug. 10 incident comes just weeks after a 4-year-old child was attacked by a mountain lion at Olympic National Park in Washington state.
The attack happened at about 3:15 p.m. on July 20 near the Victoria Overlook area on Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, the National Park Service said in a statement. The mountain lion, which was collared, bit the child on a popular trail as the minor walked with family.
The victim was airlifted to a trauma center in Seattle for treatment, while park staff later located the mountain lion and “dispatched the animal” on July 21, USA TODAY previously reported.
A male mountain lion is photographed in 2022.
What to do if you encounter a mountain lion
Although attacks on humans are rare, mountain lions are a potentially dangerous animal, the National Park Service warned on its website. Male cougars can weigh up to 150 pounds, while female cougars can weigh between 75 and 100 pounds.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife offers the following guidelines on how people can stay safe while navigating a mountain lion habitat:
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Avoid hiking, biking, or jogging alone, especially at dawn, dusk or at night.
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Deer-proof your property to avoid attracting a lion’s main food source.
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Remove dense vegetation from around the home to reduce hiding spaces.
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Install outdoor lighting to make it difficult for mountain lions to approach unseen.
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Secure livestock and outdoor large pets in sturdy, covered shelters at night.
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Report sightings or incidents to CDFW online. Call 911 in case of emergency.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Mountain lion attacks girl at Malibu, California home; animal killed
