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Child Released After Rare Mountain Lion Attack at Olympic National Park

The incident underscores the role of rapid medical response alongside collar-enabled tracking in managing rare human–cougar encounters.

Deer graze along a hillside at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center vista point, a popular destination overlooking the entire Olympic Mountain Range, on Sept. 16, 2021, near Port Angeles, Washington.
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Mountain lions live across large tracts of the U.S.

Overview

  • On July 20 near the Victoria Overlook trail on Hurricane Ridge, a collared mountain lion bit a 4-year-old child during a family hike.
  • Clallam County Fire District 2 paramedics and park staff airlifted the injured child to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
  • Harborview Medical Center reported the child was treated and released in satisfactory condition.
  • Using GPS collar signals and a canine unit, rangers located and dispatched the cougar the next morning, and park officials confirm there is no further public threat as the incident remains under investigation.
  • Authorities emphasize the rarity of human-cougar encounters and reiterate outdoor safety advice including appearing large, avoiding sudden movements, and fighting back if attacked.