A 4-year-old child was attacked by a mountain lion in Olympic National Park near Washington, requiring hospitalization in Seattle. Park rangers and a canine team located the cougar, which was later killed the following day. The incident is under investigation by the National Park Service, with the agency urging the public to report any sightings of the animal.
The attack occurred on Sunday afternoon near Victoria Overlook on Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. Park rangers were alerted shortly after 3 p.m., and paramedics and park staff responded to the incident. The child was transported by medical helicopter to a hospital in Seattle for treatment, according to the National Park Service. The animal, which was collared, bit the child while walking with their family.
The National Park Service confirmed that the mountain lion was located on the same day as the attack and was killed the next morning. Officials stated that there is no threat to the public and that the incident is under investigation to determine the circumstances of the attack. The spokesperson for the National Park Service, in an email to Fox News Digital, noted that rangers are still gathering details about the incident and encouraged the public to report any sightings of the animal.
Rangers and a canine team began searching for the mountain lion immediately after the attack. The animal was found and eliminated the following day. While there is currently no threat to the public, the National Park Service emphasized the importance of following safety guidelines when visiting national parks, particularly in areas where wildlife may be present.
Similar incidents have occurred in other parts of the country, such as a 5-year-old boy who was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a mountain lion attack in Southern California last summer. The big cat was later euthanized by California state rangers. The National Park Service reiterated that the incident in Washington is under investigation, and they are working to gather more information to better understand the circumstances leading to the attack.