Colorado woman pries open mountain lion's jaws to rescue son

[rooster59]

Colorado woman pries open mountain lion's jaws to rescue son

STEVEN K. PAULSON, Associated Press


DENVER (AP) — Summoned by the sound of screams, a Colorado woman raced to her front yard to find a terrifying sight: A mountain lion was hunched over her 5-year-old son, biting him.

The woman charged the animal, yanked away one of its paws and discovered her son's whole head was in its mouth. She didn't back down.

"She was able to pry the cat's jaws open," Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Buglione said. "She's a hero."

The boy suffered deep cuts to his head, face and neck and was flown to a Denver hospital. The mother, who also had scratches and bites, is credited with saving his life.

The ordeal started Friday evening when the 5-year-old and his older brother were playing outside their home near the resort town of Aspen, Buglione said.

When the woman ran outside, she found the mountain lion crouched over her younger son, who was struggling to get free.

"The boy was completely under the cat," Buglione told The Aspen Times.

The mother grabbed the lion's mouth and pried it open, freeing the boy. She then scooped him up and ran away, the deputy said.

The boy's father had just returned from a run when the attack occurred. He jumped in the car with his wife and son and called 911 as they sped to the Aspen hospital.

From there, the child was flown to Children's Hospital in Denver in fair condition. On Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman told the Times she was not authorized to release any details on his condition.

The mother suffered bite marks on her hand and scratches on her leg, authorities said. She was treated and released.

The family members' names were not released.

The mountain lion was estimated to be about 2 years old and was not fully grown.

"It wasn't a big cat," Buglione said. "Had it been a 110-pound lion — which I've seen around here — this would have been a much different story."

Wildlife officials killed two mountain lions in the area within several hours of the attack. The animals were being examined to determine if they were hungry, diseased or just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Colorado is home to up to 4,500 mountain lions, and they sometimes wander into urban areas looking for food, according to state wildlife officials. Since 1990, mountain lions have killed three people and injured 18 in the state.

"They're wild animals. They find habitat where they can forage for food," Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Matt Robbins said. "When you have bunnies, you're likely to find foxes or coyotes. If you have deer, there is a good chance you'll find mountain lions."

The last known lion attack on a human in Colorado was in July 2015, wildlife officials said. A young lion attacked a man as he fished north of Dotsero, about 60 miles from where Friday's attack occurred. The man suffered scratches and bites on his back and was treated at a local clinic and released.

The lion in that incident, described as a small, yearling male, was tracked and killed.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-06-19

[tomwct]

Good job!

[SgtRock]

Well done lady.

How many others would have froze in terror.

[canuckamuck]

The cougar recognized the danger of a pissed off mama.

[neverdie]

Well done lady.

How many others would have froze in terror.

Or at least 'soiled' ones underwear 55555

[SgtRock]

Well done lady.

How many others would have froze in terror.

Or at least 'soiled' ones underwear 55555

Rather soiled ones than frozen in terror. Seen both and I know which one I prefer

Edited June 19, 2016 by SgtRock

[JetsetBkk]

Don't mess with those Colorado women!

[neverdie]

Well done lady.

How many others would have froze in terror.

Or at least 'soiled' ones underwear 55555

Rather soiled ones than frozen in terror. Seen both and I know which one I prefer

I imagine it's a bit hard to run Sarge if you've snapped a large log off inside the boxers. 55555

[neverdie]

Don't mess with those Colorado women!

On her days off she juggles crocodiles and arm wrestles grisly bears.

[SgtRock]

Well done lady.

How many others would have froze in terror.

Or at least 'soiled' ones underwear 55555

Rather soiled ones than frozen in terror. Seen both and I know which one I prefer

I imagine it's a bit hard to run Sarge if you've snapped a large log off inside the boxers. 55555

You would be surprised

[55Jay]

That's one bad ass mamma bear right there.

When I was a kid, my Aunt and Uncle had a mountain lion (and 2 bobcats, horses, dogs, cat, etc) on their ranch, in massive enclosures attached to the house. The ML was named "Chirp" due to the sound they make. I was about 6, maybe 7 years old at the time, and went to the chain link fence gate on the outside of the enclosure. Soon as that cat saw me, he crouched down, motionless, staring at me from behind the logs and big rocks, I could just see his eyes and ears. In one powerful, silent leap like a coiled spring, covered the distance and slammed into the gate right in front of me. Up on its hind legs, was taller than me. The speed and power was impressive and needless to say, scared the shit out of me.

[Kiwiken]

Good Mother fights for her young. My hat is off for her. Sad though the Lion needed to attack a human. May have been starving... For the experts to decide.

[sgtsabai]

Mountain lions are wild and they attack what they can including healthy full grown elk. I've seen the stalk, then my hunter shot the lion. The old fable about they only attack and kill the weak is bullshit. I lived in lion country. We hunted them. They prefer deer but food is food. Often they only know something that could be food is there. I was hunting elk by myself one day high in the mountains. It was still bugle season, although a bit late. I'm good at moving so that my steps in the frozen snow don't sound human. I worked as a professional guide. As I worked my way back to my truck, bugling along, from behind and above (old logging road with a high bank on one side) I heard a very loud "meow", yes "meow". My hair probably stood on end enough to raise my cowboy hat clean off my head...lol. I froze, took safety off my 300 Win Mag, unsnapped my .357 and took a deep breath. I walked away like a human, never saw the lion. It couldn't have been more than 10 ft. away but couldn't see what I was because of the scrub oak above me. A good long pull on a bottle of peach brandy when I got to the truck. Watch a house cat hunt, you will get a good idea of how the lion does it. Despite all the tree huggers protestations, there are many mountains lions, many. Good for the lady, great courage although I'll bet a dime to a dollar she never thought about bravery, just her son.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Mom vs. puma...dad vs. gator...both fierce predators...both fierce protectors...mom comes out on top...kudos to mothers everywhere!

[Chicog]

Good Mother fights for her young. My hat is off for her. Sad though the Lion needed to attack a human. May have been starving... For the experts to decide.

Don't suppose it really matters if all they're going to do is kill them.

[ggt]

This Mom did not think about the consequences and danger the lion posed to her...operating on instinct...she charged into the fray to save her son...

She is a Grizzly Bear Mom in human clothing...my hat is off to you Lady!

[attrayant]

I think we need a photo of the assailant.

[goatfarmer]

Remarkable that the primordial norm still happens in the burbs.

[boomerangutang]

I resided in northern California. I heard a story of a woman jogger in a suburb of Sacramento, a big sprawling city. Cougar pounced on and killed her. It was later found she was menstrating, which could have been a factor.