Peninsula Mountain Lion Attack Investigation Closed: CDFW

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The search for a mountain lion sought in connection with last week’s attack on a 5-year-0ld boy has been suspended and the investigation has been closed, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

The boy suffered injuries in the attack but was released from a hospital the day of the attack. He is expected to make a full recovery.

The attack occurred on private property in the 1000 block of Tunitas Creek Road, around 10 miles south of Half Moon Bay.

The boy was hiking on a trail with his mother and grandfather when the attack reported before 7 p.m. occurred. He had raced ahead of the adults when the big cat pounced on him and pinned him to the ground, CDFW Capt. Patrick Foy said.

The CDFW investigation was hampered by the denial of access to private property, the agency said.

“Since the day of the attack, CDFW and allied agency personnel have been denied access to the primary private property and adjacent private properties for the purpose of attempting to capture the offending mountain lion,” the agency said.

“This lack of access, combined with worsening weather and the nomadic nature of mountain lions has diminished the chances for a successful capture of the offending mountain lion.”

Although such attacks are very rare, mountain lion encounters in the coastal Peninsula are foreseeable, officials said.

The most recent incident brings the number of attacks in California since March 1986 to 23.

It is the one of three confirmed Bay Area attacks. The two others 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