Bay Area boy survives puma attack

“I understand that the boy fought for his life and the mother charged the lion. To my knowledge, the son was released before the mother had any physical contact with the lion,” California Fish Wildlife said. Capt. Patrick Foy, spokesman for the Department’s Law Enforcement Division, told SFGATE.

Foy said as of late Wednesday morning, Fish and Wildlife had not held a formal meeting with the family. Government agency details about the attack were limited.

Jack’s aunt Amy Wagner provided more information about what happened Tuesday. He said he was running a little ahead while hiking in the hills of the farm. “He must have scared his lions on the mountain,” said Wagner, who posted her GoFundMe to cover Jack’s medical bills. “[Jack’s mother] I was able to run and chase away the mountain lions. She said she believed it was a boy. ”

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call about the incident at 6:50 p.m. Tuesday. “When deputies arrived at the scene, the boy had already been taken to the hospital,” said Sgt. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Javier Acosta. The boy had multiple stab wounds and was taken to a hospital in Redwood City before being transferred to Stanford Medical Center, officials told his SFGATE. Wagner said Jack had lacerations and bruises all over his body. The worst injuries like deep cuts and broken bones are on his face.

“Jack is an adventurous and brave boy,” said Wagner. “Physically, he will recover from these injuries. Most importantly, I want his adventurous spirit to remain through all this.”

Wildlife officers interviewed Jack’s mother today and collected pertinent evidence, such as the clothes the child was wearing and swabs of wounds, Foy said.

“Evidence is being sent to the Forensic Institute in Sacramento,” he said.

Jack’s parents, Susie and Jay Trexler, run a farm on Tunitas Creek Road that grows and donates organic produce to low-income families in the Half Moon Bay area. Potrero Nuevo Farm also employs homeless people.

“They are a special family who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities,” Wagner said. will be broken.”

Foy said Fish and Wildlife is seeking permission to enter private property where the attack occurred and search for animals.

An estimated 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions live in California, according to the most recent survey conducted by Fish and Wildlife in 1996.

“Mountain lion attacks are extremely rare and would never discourage families like this from going on nature hikes,” Foy said. “I think children are much more likely to be attacked by neighborhood dogs than by pumas, compared to attacks by domestic dogs.”

In the past five years, eight mountain lion attacks have been reported in California, none of which have been fatal and none have occurred in San Mateo County.

“I’ve been doing this for nearly 20 years,” said Acosta, who works for the sheriff’s office. It’s the only attack I know of.”

This news bulletin has been updated.