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Boy, 6, Survives Mountain Lion Attack

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Boy, 6, Survives Mountain Lion Attack (ABC News)A 6-year-old boy is recovering from a mountain lion attack that left him with scrapes and puncture wounds to his face.

Rivers Hobbs was walking with his family on a sidewalk between a restaurant and Chisos Mountain Lodge, where the family was staying in Big Bend National Park in west Texas, when the a mountain lion attacked him and clawed at his face.

"It had a hold of his face. The cat was clamped on his face," Jason Hobbs, Rivers' father,  told KOSA-TV. "[I] reached down and got my knife out and stabbed the cat in the chest and let it go at that point."

A representative from the Big Bend National Park said it was the second attack of the day, but in the other incident the people were able to drive off the mountain lion by hitting it with a backpack.

"From the description, it's small and haggard looking," park spokesman David Elkowitz told the Houston Chronicle. "It would appear to be a young lion."

Park officials are still looking for the mountain lion.

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  • Eric Somerville  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
    GLAD to see the little man is gonna be all right.
  • Linda  •  Beaverton, Oregon  •  3 months ago
    Good thing dad had his pocketknife. Glad he is going to be alright.
    • Blue Dog 3 months ago
      You should always carry a decent knife. They're good for a lot of things, including unexpected survival situations.
  • neverquit  •  3 months ago
    I love it:
    "Oh yeah, well, MY DAD beat up a MOUNTAIN LION!"
  • neverquit  •  3 months ago
    the pocketknife, the most prized lure in the tackle box.......
  • BlueViolet  •  3 months ago
    Second attack of the DAY. I guess I'm skipping that park.
  • sherry  •  Columbia, South Carolina  •  3 months ago
    keep building into the wildlife areas you tricky little developers, you!
  • sweet tooth  •  Calhoun, Georgia  •  3 months ago
    2nd attack of the day? Why was the park ( and/or trail) not closed immediately after the 1st attack! Go Dad for having the presence of mind to know to have a knife when out hiking in a remote area, and most of all for maintaining his cool and knowing how to use the knife to save his son's life!
    • JOLIE 3 months ago
      They were walking on the sidewalk not hiking
  • A Yahoo! User  •  3 months ago
    Thats a great campfire story he will tell his kids someday!
    • HANK HILL! 3 months ago
      GOD, PLEASE LOSE THE WEIGHT!
    • Peace 3 months ago
      Rivers talking to his kids 30 years from now "...So, kids, that's why your grandpa is a hero!"
  • Esther Asare  •  3 months ago
    Well done Dad! You should celebrate this year's father's day in grand style!
  • david  •  Columbus, Ohio  •  3 months ago
    Good job Dad. You saved your child. God bless you for your quick response.
  • Angry Blackdude  •  Detroit, Michigan  •  3 months ago
    how come a mountain lion can catch a 6 year old white kid and yet never catch any illegals coming over here to get on America's teet?
  • John Smith  •  3 months ago
    Carry a McRib sandwhich along on hikes, and see if hungry animals will eat it. They are starving, so they might just give it a try.
    • The Guffaw Conspiracy 3 months ago
      That's like swimming in chum when you go fishin'.
    • John Smith 3 months ago
      Hopefully, they will eat the sandwhich, NOT your kids.

      "Here kitty, look at the McRib! All nice and juicy and dripping in sauce, just for you! You want the value meal, or just the sandwhich?"
    • John Smith 3 months ago
      "Wait, isn't that McRib made from intestines and eyeballs?" the mountain lion asks. "No way, Jose! What are you trying to do, poison me with that thing? Hey, I'm a protected species, and I got rights! Next time, bring the good meat, not that garbage!"

      Geeze, even the animals don't want the pink slime!
  • A. R.  •  3 months ago
    Thank god the father was carrying a knife!!!!
  • Chief  •  St Louis, Missouri  •  3 months ago
    "Now, dat's my boy!"

    Talk about father-son bonding...... that's one for the books.
  • Dee  •  Columbia, Missouri  •  3 months ago
    Someone, somewhere is really offended by the father stabbing the mountain lion
  • jonathan a  •  3 months ago
    He only lived because his father was there...Many people have been killed and eaten by cougars. True they don't always do this, sometimes it's just an attack, but a little boy would definitely be lunch.
  • Jill  •  Fairfield, Connecticut  •  3 months ago
    Wow! That'll be a great story to tell his kids and grandkids someday. I'm glad he's going to be okay, poor little guy.
  • T.J. P  •  3 months ago
    He's fortunate that real mountain lions aren't as dangerous as the ones in Red Dead Redemption.
  • Katherine  •  3 months ago
    What a strong little boy!! I hope he has a swift recovery!!
  • Annie  •  3 months ago
    Yeah, mountain lions in Texas. You can find just about anything here. Big Bend area is a lovely place but can be a tad dangerous. Hope the child has a speedy recovery.