11-Year-Old Girl Attacked by Mountain Lion While Feeding Chickens Outside Malibu Home

An 11-Year-Old Girl Attacked by Mountain Lion Outside Malibu Home

An 11-year-old girl was recently attacked by a mountain lion while at a home in Malibu, California. The distressing incident occurred on the 32500 block of the Pacific Coast Highway on Sunday, Aug. 10.

Reports suggest that the young girl was feeding chickens on the property when the mountain lion approached and bit her arm. Fortunately, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) revealed that her injuries were not life-threatening.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shared that deputies responded to the scene at around 5:42 p.m. local time following the animal attack. The child was discovered in the backyard with a bite on her arm, and she was promptly treated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department before being transported to the hospital by her parents for further medical attention.

Despite the traumatic encounter, the girl is expected to fully recover from her injuries, as they were deemed non-life-threatening. It was noted that the mountain lion was located and contained by deputies until the California Department of Fish and Game arrived at the scene.

Following the necessary protocols, the mountain lion was later shot and killed, ensuring the safety of the public in the area. The animal’s identity was confirmed through DNA testing, specifically comparing samples taken from the child with the captured mountain lion.

This incident comes almost a year after a similar attack involving a 5-year-old boy at Malibu Creek State Park. In that case, the child was playing near the family’s picnic area when a mountain lion pounced, causing significant but non-life-threatening injuries. The swift actions of park rangers led to the euthanization of the animal to prevent further threats to public safety.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been approached for additional insights on the recent incident but has yet to respond. Notably, such encounters serve as a reminder of the wildlife coexisting with Californian residents, prompting the need for vigilance and awareness, especially in areas where human and animal habitats intersect.

As the affected community rallies behind the young girl for her recovery, authorities continue to monitor and address wildlife encounters, emphasising safety measures for residents and wildlife alike. Instances like these underscore the importance of wildlife conservation efforts and public safety initiatives to mitigate such incidents in the future.