Young child in San Diego injured in attack by mountain lion or other big cat

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By Elisha Fieldstadt

Emergency crews responded to a report that a child was attacked by a big cat, like a mountain lion or a bobcat, Monday afternoon, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.

The fire department was called with an initial report of a mountain lion attack at about 2:30 p.m. from Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. The injured child is about 4 years old and was with an adult at the time of the apparent attack, according to a statement from San Diego Fire-Rescue.

A reported Mountain Lion attack Rancho Penasquitos Canyon Reserve in California.KNSD

The child was taken to Rady’s Children’s Hospital in San Diego, the statement said. Information on the child’s condition was not immediately available Tuesday morning.

The city’s fire department also called the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to the scene.

A call to Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve on Tuesday led to a recording that said the trails there were closed “due to a wildlife issue.”

People who live near the trails said they often see signs posted warning of wild cats, according to NBC San Diego. Still, residents were spooked.

“We walk in this canyon all the time, so it is a bit scary that you can get attacked like that,” Marcela Reices said.

source: nbcnews.com