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Mom pried son’s head from mountain lion’s mouth

Posted at 6:32 PM, Jun 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-18 18:36:11-04

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say a Colorado woman saved her 5-year-old son’s life by prying his head from a mountain lion’s mouth after the animal attacked the boy in their front yard.

Pitkin County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Buglione says the woman told him she found the lion crouched over her son biting his head Friday outside their home near the resort town of Aspen. She told deputies she grabbed one of the animal’s paws and stuck her right hand in its mouth to pry it open.

Buglione says the mother had bite marks on her hand and scratches on her leg after the lion, estimated to be about 2 years old, ran off.

He says the boy suffered deep cuts to his face, head and neck and was taken to a Denver hospital. Their names weren’t released.

Wildlife officials say they shot one young mountain lion near the home and a second one in the area several hours later.