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mdparthum · **Mountain Lion Attack in Big Bend National Park -** 02-07-2012, 10:25 AM

FYI: Just saw on a local news channel's website. I posted the link for all those that love BIBE (Big Bend).

Mountain lion attacks boy, 6, at Big Bend | khou.com Houston

r0xikat · 02-07-2012, 10:27 AM

sad to hear, but if the lion was in 'poor' condition, they were just both in the wrong place at the same time. At least the kid is okay and the park rangers took action.

but I'm sure lions are a lot less scary than some of the people in Terlingua ;)

Nikonfan · 02-07-2012, 09:58 PM

A mountain Lion killed a deer on my parents land years ago. Ive never actually spotted one even though I've been going to that land for 23 years. It always amazes me how many people swear to have seen a mountain lion and then it turns out that it was a bobcat. I can't help but wonder if this was a bobcat. It said "young" mountain lion. That would make it even easier to confuse with a bobcat. Plus, if it were really a mountain lion I would think the boy would be in much worse condition. Once they attack they typically won't stop. I'm glad the boy is going to be okay.

JohnT · 02-07-2012, 10:05 PM

Yeah, it surprises me that the boy got out of the ordeal with minimal damage if it was in fact a mountain lion.

lhdvies · 02-07-2012, 11:36 PM

I go to the park a lot & have seen several mtn lions, even posted some "bad " shots of one once. Even though this was "close to the lodge", there are signs all over the place to not have young children on the trails at dusk.
The father in this case acted quickly & stabbed the lion with his"pocket knife" & the wounded lion took off. Base on the the youngster's scars & cuts it was pretty sure a lion. Actually I've never seen a bobcat in the lodge area of Big Bend.

Jim Victory · 02-08-2012, 12:28 AM

This is an ongoing problem in Big Bend due to the recent drought. Mt. Lions and bears have had to come down from higher elevations to look for food and that usually brings them in contact with people.

Recently a ranger and his dog were trapped in a bathroom in the park because of a Mt. Lion. He was prowling around the bathroom looking for food.

rab3rd · 02-08-2012, 06:58 AM

there was another attack the same day, they assume by the same ML. No injuries occured on the first attack. I guess the people were able to get away.

andyz · 02-08-2012, 07:08 AM

Saw this yesterday as my son sent me a link. I told him NOT to show it to my wife or we wouldn't be heading back unless my wife had a shark cage to sit in while I was shooting.

Nikonfan · 02-08-2012, 09:50 AM

I just read an article on Fox News with some more details. Apparently the boy was in his mothers arms and snatched out and drug into the brush. That definately sounds like a mountain lion. Also, they noted they were not on a trail but a paved sidewalk between a restaurant and hotel. Scary stuff.

Texas Boy, 6, Reportedly Snatched By Mountain Lion At Big Bend National Park | Fox News

PHOTO-DA · 02-08-2012, 11:36 AM

There have been Mountain Lions hanging around the Lodge area for years, usually around sunset and sunrise. Heck around 20 years ago in late spring there was one spotted the morning that I went in to camp at the campground right by the lodge and Rangers were telling us about how to handle food at our campsites-said that the lions had never attacked anyone in a tent but not sure about since then.

They had the story on the news in Dallas also and I thought that it was probably a juvenile (under 1 year old) since an adult would have broken the kids neck since it had him right in the jaw and face area- showed the kids face and the reporter said that he wasn't fazed too badly by the attack the parents looked more shaken up. I wouldn't hold a lot of water about the kid being snatched out of her arms-bet he was walking next to mom and holding her hand and the cat went after him.

MOST DANGEROUS TIME AROUND THERE FOR MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS IS PRE-DAWN and SUNSET!! It's not like the ML's that attack the Joggers on the hill trails around LA that you hear about where those are all day long.

I've seen pics showing ML's walking around the Lodge in the morning so be careful when you go to your vehicle to head out for SUNRISE shots!