Mountain lion that attacked 6-year-old boy to be tracked with hounds

Federal officials plan to deploy hounds in their search of a mountain lion that attacked a 6-year-old boy in Cupertino on Sunday, leaving him with lacerations and other nonlife-threatening injuries.

The attack occurred about 1:15 p.m. as the boy and his parents were hiking in an open space preserve adjacent to a winery. The mountain lion “came out of nowhere” and started to drag the boy into the brush before his parents were able to fight it off, said Lt. Patrick Foy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Shawn Ardaiz of San Francisco told NBC Bay Area he saw the father come down the trail carrying his son, who appeared to have lacerations on the back of his neck.

“He was bleeding pretty heavily,” Ardaiz said.

The boy was listed in fair condition Sunday evening at Valley Medical Center.

“A 6-year-old child in no way can defend himself against a mountain lion,” Foy said. “He was very lucky he was with his parents.”

There have been 13 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California between 1986 and 2013 resulting in three fatalities, according to the Fish and Wildlife agency’s website.

“It’s quite rare,” Foy said. “People are far more likely to be attacked by a dog.”

All hiking trails in the area, managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, have been closed as game wardens attempt to track down the mountain lion responsible for the attack. When it’s found, it will be killed “in the interest of public safety,” Foy said.

Anyone encountering a mountain lion or other wild animal should stand tall, wave their arms, shout aggressively and fight back if attacked, he added.

Follow the reporter on Twitter: @TeresaWatanabe