Community Corner
Peninsula Mountain Lion Attack Prompts Police Advisory
Although such attacks are very rare, mountain lion encounters in the coastal Peninsula are foreseeable, officials said.
SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The Pacifica Police Department has issued an advisory after a child was attacked by a mountain lion earlier this week.
A 5-year-0ld boy who was attacked in rural San Mateo County was been released from a hospital Tuesday. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The boy was hiking on a trail with his mother and grandfather when the attack reported before 7 p.m. occurred on private property on Tunitas Creek Road.
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He had raced ahead of the adults when the big cat pounced on him and pinned him to the ground, said Capt. Patrick Foy, a spokesman with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating this incident.
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Although such attacks are very rare, mountain lion encounters in the coastal Peninsula are foreseeable, officials said.
“Pacifica is also mountain lion country and sightings are not uncommon,” the advisory on the agency’s Facebook page said.
Mountain lions typically avoid contact with humans and are most active around dusk and dawn.
“We encourage residents to always be aware of their surroundings and to always watch over their children and pets,” the agency said.
“It is important to be aware of the wildlife throughout our city and take steps to keep ourselves and family safe. Visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) website for more information about living in mountain lion country.”
California has seen just 22 confirmed attacks since March 1986, according to the DFW’s website.
The only two confirmed Bay Area attacks occurred in Santa Clara County (September 2014 and February 2020).
“An attack is verified only when a physician, law enforcement officer or CDFW personnel determine the injuries were caused by a mountain lion,” the DFW’s website said.
Anyone who witnesses a wild animal behaving aggressively towards humans is urged to call local police.
Wild animal sightings may be reported to the California Department Fish and Wildlife’s online incident reporting system.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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