scary: 3 year old boy attacked by mountain lion in my area today (pics of the lion)

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The child was attacked at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, suffering injuries consistent with an attack from a mountain lion, said Capt. Patrick Foy of the California Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division.

The child was taken to Mission Hospital and is reported in stable condition, said Capt. Tony Bommarito of the Orange County Fire Authority.

A picture of what happened has emerged from various official accounts.

Two adults and four children were hiking about 4 p.m. when the lion attacked. The lion was reported to have singled out the child, Foy said.

The lion apparently seized the boy by the neck, creating puncture wounds, and started to drag him away. The child suffered abrasions from being dragged along the ground.

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In January 2004, also in Whiting Ranch, a mountain lion killed avid biker Mark Reynolds, 35, of Foothill Ranch. He apparently was crouched over, fixing his bike, when the animal attacked. Experts at the time said a cat will sometimes interpret a crouching animal as a sign of weakness. Reynolds was probably in greater danger because he was alone.

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“Due to the threat to public safety,” deputies received authorization from the Fish and Wildlife Department to kill the lion, said Carrie Braun of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The animal was killed about 5:20 p.m.

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