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- 4-year-old attacked by mountain lion at Olympic National Park, officials say</p>
<p>Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY July 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM</p>
<p>A four-year-old was attacked by a mountain lion at Olympic National Park in Washington state, the National Park Service said.</p>
<p>The attack happened at about 3:15 p.m. on July 20 near the Victoria Overlook area on Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, the park service said in a statement. The mountain lion, which was collared, bit the child on a popular trail as the minor walked with family.</p>
<p>Paramedics and park staff airlifted the victim to a trauma center in Seattle, where the child is undergoing treatment, the park service said. Officials did not provide additional information about the child, citing privacy reasons.</p>
<p>Rangers began searching for the cougar immediately after the attack and were later joined by a canine team, the park service confirmed. Park staff later located the mountain lion and "dispatched the animal" on July 21.</p>
<p>"There are no current threats to the public," the park service said. The incident remains under investigation.</p>
<p>What to do if you encounter a mountain lion</p>
<p>Though attacks on humans are rare, mountain lions are a potentially dangerous animal, the National Park Service warned on its website. Male cougars can weigh up to 150 pounds, while female cougars can weigh between 75 and 100 pounds.</p>
<p>In 2024, a horrific mountain lion attack left one man dead and another injured in a remote forest area in Northern California. Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21, was killed during the attack in the small community of Georgetown, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office posted in a statement on social media at the time.</p>
<p>The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offers guidelines on how people can stay safe while navigating a mountain lion habitat, including hiking with a companion and being aware of their surroundings.</p>
<p>If someone encounters a puma in the wild, the service advises people to do the following:</p>
<p>"Do not approach."</p>
<p>"Stop, stay calm, and do not turn your back. Do not run."</p>
<p>"Face the animal, stand upright, talk calmly and firmly to the cougar, and give it a way to escape if you can".</p>
<p>Do all you can to appear larger. For example, open your jacket and raise or wave your arms.</p>
<p>"Pick up small children or pets immediately so they won't panic, flee, or make rapid movements."</p>
<p>"If the cougar becomes more aggressive, become more aggressive toward it. Convince the animal that you are not prey, but a danger to it."</p>
<p>"Fight back if attacked."</p>
<p>Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mountain lion attacked child at Olympic National Park in Washington</p>
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