An 11-year-old girl suffered injuries from a mountain lion attack while feeding chickens outside her family's property in an affluent Malibu neighborhood.
Authorities responded to a home on the 32500 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu after receiving reports of a mountain lion attack on Sunday evening. According to KTLA, the girl was feeding chickens at the property when the mountain lion launched at her and bit her on the arm.
Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Lost Hills Station said deputies responded shortly after 5:30 pm on Sunday evening. The severity of the girl's injuries remains unknown, but she was rushed to the hospital and is expected to be okay.
Emergency Response And Investigation
Emergency responders arrived at the scene on Sunday, including officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. These officials managed to track the lion down and shoot it dead to prevent further attacks in the area.
DNA samples were taken from the 11-year-old to be compared with the mountain lion's genetic material. This testing will ensure authorities track down the correct animal responsible for the attack.
The surrounding homes in the area sprawl across prime Malibu real estate and have sold for as much as $26 million. It remains unclear which specific home the girl lived in on the block, but the location represents some of California's most expensive coastal property.
Recent Mountain Lion Attacks
This incident marks another mountain lion attack in Malibu in recent years, highlighting ongoing wildlife encounters in the area. Last year, a five-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion at Malibu Creek State Park, an 8,215-acre park with 15 miles of trails.
The previous attack happened at around 4:30 pm while the child was having a picnic with family members at the state park. The animal grabbed the child's head in its jaws and tried to run away with its prey before the boy's father wrestled him free.
The first fatal mountain lion attack in 20 years took place in Georgetown, California, last March. One man died and another suffered traumatic injuries to the face following a mountain lion attack in the rural area.
Deadly California Encounters
The Georgetown incident involved two brothers aged 21 and 18 who were searching for shed antlers in a remote area. The 18-year-old phoned 911 to say that he and his brother were attacked, leaving him with traumatic injuries to his face.
First responders arrived at the scene around 20 minutes later and began treating the 18-year-old while launching a search for his brother. They located the 21-year-old man down with a mountain lion in a crouched position nearby, according to Kyle Parker, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.
Since 1890, there have been only six fatal mountain lion attacks in California, making the March 2024 incident the first in two decades. Mountain lions can weigh up to 150 pounds and are known for being one of the most reclusive animals in US forests, according to the National Parks Service.
Lessons to Learn from This Tragedy
While individual precautions may not guarantee safety, experts and authorities stress the importance of knowing how to coexist with wildlife in areas like Malibu. Here are three lessons from Sunday’s frightening attack:
1. Always supervise children and pets when outdoors in high-risk areas. Even peaceful activities like feeding animals can quickly become dangerous when predators are nearby.
2. Secure livestock and food sources to prevent attracting large carnivores. Enclosing chickens or other small animals in predator-proof coops can reduce the chance of unwanted wildlife visits.
3. Promptly report wildlife sightings or suspicious activity to local authorities. Timely intervention can alert neighboring residents and assist wildlife officials in locating and removing potential threats before tragedy occurs.
Despite these steps, it’s crucial to remember that wildlife attacks can happen unexpectedly, and no amount of preparation guarantees safety. Victims should never be blamed for the actions of wild animals.
Why This Story Matters
This incident raises urgent questions about the boundaries between wilderness and residential life along California's coast. The growing number of mountain lion encounters serves as a warning to those living in areas where wild animals roam. For families in Malibu and similar communities, understanding the risk and knowing what to do in an emergency is more important than ever. Public awareness and policy discussions around wildlife management could help prevent future tragedies.
Conclusion
Sunday’s mountain lion attack on an 11-year-old girl in Malibu is a stark reminder of how quickly tragedy can unfold in areas that border wildlife habitats. Following the attack, wildlife officials responded swiftly, tracking and euthanizing the predator believed responsible. The girl is expected to recover, and DNA testing will confirm whether the animal shot was the one involved in the attack. The incident has renewed concern amid a rising number of such encounters across California and neighboring states, including fatal and near-fatal incidents in recent years. With mountain lions increasingly appearing in suburban neighborhoods, communities are urged to remain vigilant and take precautions when living in or near wilderness areas.
