California 11-Year-Old Girl Recovering After Mountain Lion Attack

*A California girl is recovering from a bite wound to her arm after a cougar attacked her while she was feeding her chickens. (Photo by Evgeniygw) *

A mountain lion attacked and injured an 11-year-old California girl while she fed her chickens in the backyard of her Malibu home last week.

According to People.com, deputies were called to the scene on the evening of Sunday, August 10, after receiving a call about the attack.

The child, who was located in the backyard of the property, suffered a bite wound on her arm. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel treated her injury at the scene before she was taken to the hospital for further care. The girl is expected to make a full recovery.

KTLA says it’s believed the child was feeding chickens outside when the incident occurred. A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department news release said deputies located the mountain lion and contained it until the California Department of Fish and Game arrived at the scene.

KTLA reports the animal was eventually euthanized. DNA samples taken from the child, and tested against the animal, confirmed it was responsible for the attack.

The attack comes almost a year after a 5-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion while having a picnic with his family at Malibu Creek State Park.

"The children were playing in the immediate vicinity of the family’s picnic table when a mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy, causing significant but non-life-threatening injuries," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement at the time. The animal was seen as "a threat to public safety," resulting in a ranger using a firearm to shoot and kill the mountain lion.

The child was then airlifted to a local hospital for treatment before being discharged early Monday, Sept. 2.