Investigators with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife determined the mountain lion killed Monday in Whiting Ranch Wilderness park was the same mountain lion who attacked a three-year old boy in lake forest.
The attack happened just after 4 p.m. A family of six was out walking, when the animal approached them, grabbed the boy by the neck and dragged him away.
That's when the boy's father sprang into action, doing anything he could to save his son.
“He’s doing okay. So, the little boy was about three and a half years old, very very small young boy. Obviously, a super traumatic experience for him mentally, physically and for the entire family,” said Captain Patrick Foy with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers checked the backpack, the boy's clothing and the mountain for matching DNA.
They determined it was the same young 55-pound female lion killed in the park that attacked the boy.
They added these types of attacks are extremely rare, with only 16 mountain lion attacks in the last 100 years. Three of those have been fatal.
