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The close visit of a young child with a cougar in a park in the state of Washington over the weekend could have been much worse without the family's dogs, a Sunday official said.
The incident occurred late Saturday night at the Enchantment Park in Leavenworth, about 115 km east of Seattle, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife in Washington said in a statement posted on Twitter that the fat cat had been spotted earlier in the day by displaying "abnormal behavior", but that officials had not managed to find it. City officials had closed the park with the intention of returning on Sunday morning with tracking dogs.
Child Escapes "Serious Injury" After Cougar Attack in Washington, United States
But later in the day, the cougar attacked a young boy in the park. The meeting only ended when the family's dogs were released and they pursued the cat.
A child escaped seriously injured after an attempted cougar attack at Enchantment Park in Leavenworth, Washington on Saturday night at dusk, according to state police.
(Washington State Patrol Soldier, John Bryant)
"The cougar went out and actually attacked the child," Captain WDFW's Michael Jewell told The Spokesman-Review. "They had dogs with them that they let go. The dogs intervened and managed to hunt the cougar. "
Washington State Patrol Soldier, John Bryant, shared on Twitter a photo of the animal taken by a resident of the place.
Officials from several agencies then worked all night hunting for the cougar. It was finally located around 1:30 am Sunday and was euthanized.
COUGAR APPARENTLY KILLED A WOMAN OF OREGON MISSING NEARLY 2 WEEKS, SAY THE INVESTIGATORS
WDFW biologists visually examined the cougar on Sunday morning and found that it did not seem unhealthy, but was considering additional testing on the animal, according to the agency.
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According to National Geographic, pumas, also known as mountain lions, usually hunt at night or during the hours around dawn or dusk.
"These cats use a mixture of stealth and power, tracking down their prey until an opportunity arises, then attacking the back of the neck with a fatal bite," the magazine notes. "They will hide large carcasses and feed them for several days."
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