A cougar was euthanized after it attacked a child Sunday morning near Rocky Mountain House.
The attack happened along the Baptist River Sunday morning, and by afternoon Fish and Wildlife officials had captured and euthanized the cougar, according to a statement issued by Fish and Wildlife Service Inspector Rob Kohut on Tuesday.
A forensics team collected animal DNA from the area of the attack and confirmed that the captured female cougar was responsible for the attack, Kohut said.
The area closure, which spanned the river and into the North Saskatchewan River, was lifted Tuesday morning.
Read more: Cougar euthanized in Lethbridge
The seven-year-old boy who was attacked spent three and a half hours in surgery and received “over 200 staples and surgical staples and many more stitches on his face, neck and head,” his mother, Chai Feuser, wrote on Facebook. “This is a miracle. No major arteries hit, no punctured lungs, his skull intact. He suffered a fractured jaw and severe cosmetic injuries.
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Her son was released from the hospital on Tuesday and the family returned home safely. Although encounters with cougars are rare, they do happen. Kohut advised people to travel in groups and carry some form of protection, such as bear spray. Don’t run or turn your back – instead, walk slowly and face the animal.
“Look big and talk loud. If the cougar makes contact, hit back and don’t back down. Use all means at your disposal,” Kohut said in the statement.
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