Girl Injured, Officials Euthanize Cougar Following Rare Encounter

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A recent incident involved an 11-year-old girl who was injured by a mountain lion in Malibu. The attack occurred on Sunday evening near a chicken coop on the family's property. The cougar bit the child on her arm, leg, and lower back. She received treatment at a local hospital for minor injuries.

Family members, including the girl's mother and sibling, responded to the child's screams. The mountain lion then chased the mother and sibling. Another family member used a stun gun, which reportedly scared the animal away. Officials later located and euthanized a mountain lion in the area. DNA samples are being analyzed to confirm if it was the same animal involved in the attack.

Encounters with mountain lions are rare. Since 1986, there have been 27 confirmed attacks on humans, with most being nonfatal. In March 2024, a mountain lion fatally attacked two brothers near Georgetown, marking the first fatal cougar attack in California in two decades. Prior to that, in Malibu Creek State Park, a five-year-old boy was pulled from the jaws of a mountain lion during a family picnic.