The attack occurred along the Baptiste River Sunday morning, and by afternoon, fish and wildlife officers had captured and euthanized the cougar, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Superintendent Rob Kohut said in a statement Tuesday. A forensic team collected animal DNA from the area of the attack and confirmed that the female cougar was responsible for the attack, Kohut said. An area closure that stretched along the river and into the North Saskatchewan River was lifted Tuesday morning.
Read more: Cougar euthanized in Lethbridge
The seven-year-old boy who was attacked spent three and a half hours in surgery and received “over 200 staples and surgical clamps and many more stitches in his face, neck and head,” his mother, Chay, wrote. Foiser on Facebook. “It’s a Miracle. No major arteries were hit, no lungs were punctured, his skull is intact. He suffers from a fractured jaw and severe cosmetic injuries.” Trending Stories
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Story continues below ad Her son was released from the hospital on Tuesday and the family returned home safely. Although cougar encounters are rare, they do happen. Kohut advised people to travel in groups and bring some form of protection, such as bear spray. Don’t run or turn your back – instead, walk slowly and face the animal. “Make yourself look big and speak loudly. If the cougar makes contact, resist and don’t give up. Use all means at your disposal,” Kohut said in the statement. © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
