Mountain lion attacks boy; Texas protestors decry wild animal shootings

Jennifer Garretson of Waco rides Gambler, a mammoth donkey on Wednesday at the State Capitol in Austin.
Jennifer Garretson of Waco rides Gambler, a mammoth donkey on Wednesday at the State Capitol in Austin.
Associated Press

Associated Press

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK — Officials at Big Bend National Park in West Texas are looking for a mountain lion that attacked and injured a 6-year-old boy as he walked with three other people.

Park spokesman David Elkowitz says the boy was treated for puncture wounds and scratches and released from a hospital in Alpine.

Rangers began evacuating trails and campsites early Monday.

Elkowitz says the young boy was walking near the park’s lodge with three other people Sunday evening when he was attacked by a “young lion in very poor condition.”

The boy’s name wasn’t released.

Elkowitz says the animal that attacked the boy will be killed if found.

Big Bend also made the news as protesters rode burros to the Texas Capitol and delivered a petition with 100,000 signatures asking an end to shooting the animals in the wild.

The Wild Burro Protection League’s petition asks Gov. Rick Perry to stop Texas Parks and Wildlife officials from hunting wild burros in Big Bend Ranch State Park in West Texas.