4-year-old in hospital after cougar attack in Olympic National Park
Jul 21, 2025, 5:19 PM
A four-year-old is recovering in the hospital after being attacked by a cougar in Olympic National Park.
The child was bitten by a collared mountain lion while walking with their family on a popular trail Sunday afternoon, near the Victoria Overlook area on Hurricane Ridge, according to a news release from the National Park Service (NPS).
Paramedics and park staff responded to the scene and transferred the child via LifeFlight to a Level 1 trauma center.
Child in satisfactory condition following cougar attack
The child is currently in satisfactory condition, a Harborview spokesperson confirmed with KIRO Newsradio.
Rangers began searching for the cougar immediately after the attack. Authorities found the animal with the help of a canine team around 5 p.m. However, they did not complete the dispatch until the following morning.
“There are no current threats to the public,” NPS wrote.
The name of the child is not being released to protect privacy.
The incident is under investigation. Witnesses are asked to call 888-653-0009 or email nps_isb@nps.gov.
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