MALIBU, Calif. — An 11-year-old girl suffered minor injuries after being attacked by a mountain lion outside her family’s Malibu home, prompting wildlife officers to later euthanize the big cat, authorities confirmed Monday.
Cougar Attacks Near Chicken Coop
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the incident occurred Sunday evening while the girl was near the family’s chicken coop. The cougar attacked from behind, biting her arm, leg, and lower back.
The child was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries.
Mother and Sibling Also Targeted
Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira said the girl’s mother heard screams and ran to help with one of the girl’s siblings. The cougar then chased both the mother and sibling.
A family member armed with a stun gun discharged it nearby, and the noise frightened the animal away.
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Cougar Found and Euthanized
Later, wildlife officers located a mountain lion in the area and euthanized it. DNA testing will determine if it was the same cougar involved in the attack.
Rare but Serious Threat
Mountain lion attacks on humans are uncommon in California. Since 1986, there have been 27 confirmed incidents, most of them nonfatal. The most recent fatal attack occurred in March 2024, when a 21-year-old man was killed near Georgetown in Northern California.
Last September, another Malibu-area attack left a 5-year-old boy injured while playing near a picnic table at Malibu Creek State Park.
