Mountain lion mauls boy in California

CUPERTINO, Calif., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A mountain lion that attacked a 6-year-old boy in a California nature preserve faces a death sentence if it can be identified.

The boy was with his parents Sunday afternoon in Cupertino in Silicon Valley when the animal jumped on him. He was reported to be in fair condition in the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, after being scratched and given puncture wounds.

Lt. Patrick Foy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said investigators would use hounds to track mountain lions in the area. If they locate the lion matching DNA samples found on the boy's clothes, the animal will be put down.

Hikers have been warned to avoid the area, and trails are closed.

The parents described the attack as apparently unprovoked.

"The father told us that the mountain lion came out of nowhere and attacked the boy," Foy said. "A 6-year-old child in no way can defend himself against a mountain lion. He was very lucky he was with his parents."

Fish and Wildlife officials say that three people were killed by mountain lions between 1986 and 2013 in California with a total of 13 attacks.