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According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a mountain lion that cruelly mauled a 5-year-old kid while he and his family were hiking in California will not be removed from the wild.
The boy, identified by a relative as Jack, would have perished if his mother had not dragged him to safety following the terrifying attack on Tuesday evening.
DNA analysis of the animal verified that it was the same mountain lion responsible for the boy’s injuries, according to a tweet from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The department stated that repeated denials of access to the private property where the animal is believed to be compelled them to end their investigation into the incident.
“Since the day of the attack, CDFW and allied agency personnel have been denied access to the primary and adjacent private properties in an effort to capture the offending mountain lion,” the department stated.
Lack of access, bad weather, and the nomadism of mountain lions have decreased the likelihood of successfully capturing the offending mountain lion.
On the day of the attack, Jack was walking with his mother and grandfather near their family’s farm. According to officials, the small youngster ran ahead when the mountain lion pounced on him and pinned him to the ground.
The animal, believed to be a cub, was ultimately frightened away by Jack’s mother, who lunged at it.
The youngster was transported to a trauma facility for treatment of his puncture wounds and other ailments.
His aunt, Amie Wagner, wrote on a GoFundMe page seeking assistance with Jack’s medical expenses, “Jack has many lacerations, especially on his precious face, in addition to a fracture near one eye.” Although he is covered with scrapes, bruises, and scratches, his spirit is unharmed.
She commented, “I am not surprised that if there was a child who could successfully wrestle a mountain lion, it would be Jack.”
On Wednesday, Jack was released from the hospital.
Rarely do mountain lions attack humans. According to the Department of Fire and Wildlife, there have only been roughly twenty confirmed assaults in California in the past century.
»California mountain lion violently attacks 5-year-old will not be removed from the wild«