Warning as girl, 8, saved by 'screaming and yelling' mum after being attacked by cougar
The young girl was attacked by the cougar while on a camping trip with her family at the Olympic National Park in Port Angeles, Washington.
An eight-year-girl was saved by her "screaming and yelling" mum after the youngster was attacked by a cougar while camping with her family.
The horrifying incident unfolded when the girl was staying at the Olympic National Park in Port Angeles, Washington.
The National Park Service said they were notified at around 6.30pm on Saturday that an eight-year-old child was attacked by a cougar while camping in Lake Angeles.
But the cougar "casually abandoned its attack after being yelled and screamed at by the child’s mother".
Park staff responded quickly and once the child's medical condition was assessed, the family was escorted back to the trailhead by park personnel.
The girl suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. All remaining campers in the Lake Angeles area were evacuated.
Olympic National Park Wildlife Biologist Tom Kay said in a statement: "Due to the extreme nature of this incident, we are closing the Lake Angeles area and several trails in the vicinity.
"Out of an abundance of caution, the Lake Angeles Trail, Heather Park Trail, Switchback Trail, and the entire Klahhane Ridge Trail are closed until further notice."
At 5am the following morning, park law enforcement and wildlife personnel specializing in cougar tracking were dispatched to the animal's last known point at Lake Angeles.
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The National Park Service said if the cougar was located, it would be "euthanized" and removed from the park for a necropsy - examination of an animal after death.
It added in a statement: "This may provide clues as to why the animal attacked since cougars are rarely seen and attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare.
"Olympic National Park has extensive protocols in place for wildlife observations, interactions, and attacks and the lethal removal of this cougar is in line with these protocols."
But visitors have also been warned the entirety of Olympic National Park "is considered cougar territory and it is important for visitors to be prepared for an encounter".
Visitors are advised not to hike or jog alone, and to keep young children with sight and close to adults.
If someone was to encounter a cougar, they should not run "because it could trigger the cougar’s attack instinct".
Instead, people should group together, appear as large as possible, keep eyes on the cougar, and make as much noise as possible, while throwing rocks at the cougar is also recommended.
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