In a heart-stopping incident in Colorado, a mother showcased incredible bravery when she saved her 5-year-old son from a mountain lion that attacked him in their backyard. Both mother and child emerged from the terrifying encounter with their lives intact.
The unnamed mother was inside her home in Lower Woody Creek, located approximately 10 miles northwest of Aspen, when she heard her son’s desperate screams. He was playing outside with his older brother. Rushing outside, she found the mountain lion on top of her youngest child. Reports indicate that she initially grabbed one of the lion’s paws, only to discover that the animal had her son’s entire head in its mouth. “She managed to pry the cat’s jaws open,” said Deputy Michael Buglione from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Department. “She’s definitely a hero.” She continued to fend off the mountain lion until she could safely pull her son away and escape.
Coincidentally, the child’s father returned from a jog just as the attack occurred. He quickly drove both his wife and son to a nearby hospital. The little boy sustained deep lacerations to his head, neck, and face and was airlifted from Aspen to Children’s Hospital in Denver for treatment. The brave mother suffered minor injuries to her hand and legs, which were treated before she was released from the hospital. Officials noted that the outcome could have been far more tragic if the mountain lion had been larger or if the mother hadn’t intervened so swiftly. “It wasn’t a big cat,” Buglione stated. “Had it been a 110-pound lion — which I’ve seen around here — this would have been a much different story.” Authorities estimated the mountain lion to be around 2 years old.
A U.S. Forest Service officer later found the suspected mountain lion nearby, leading to its euthanization. Mountain lions are a natural part of Colorado’s ecosystem, with approximately 4,500 residing in the state. However, few parents anticipate facing such a dangerous situation. The love and instinct to protect her child drove this mother to act with remarkable strength and focus amidst the chaos. Since 1990, only about three fatalities from mountain lion attacks have been recorded in Colorado, highlighting the rarity of such events. “They’re wild animals. They find habitat where they can forage for food,” said Matt Robbins from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “If you have deer, there is a good chance you’ll find mountain lions.”
Interestingly, the last known mountain lion attack occurred in July 2015 when a man fishing in Colorado survived with minor injuries—about 60 miles from where the young boy was attacked. If you’re interested in more about home insemination or have questions about the process, check out our blog post on intracervicalinsemination.com. Also, for those considering starting a family, Make A Mom offers great resources on home insemination kits. For more information on pregnancy and infertility treatments, visit ACOG.
In summary, this courageous mother’s quick thinking and determination saved her son from a potentially deadly situation. Her actions serve as a powerful reminder of parental love and the lengths to which a person will go to protect their child.