The Latest: Mom pried son’s head from mountain lion’s mouth

ASPEN, Colo. – The Latest on the mountain lion attack on a small child in Colorado (all times local):

4 p.m.

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 (BOO-lee-oh-nee) 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.

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11:40 a.m.

Authorities say a mother fought off a mountain lion that attacked her 5-year-old son in Colorado on Friday night.

The sheriff’s office said the boy’s mother heard screaming while he was playing outside in the front yard with his older brother. The mother ran outside, where she saw the animal on top of her son and she dragged the boy away.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office said the boy suffered face, head and neck injuries and was in fair condition at a hospital in Denver. The mother was treated and released from a hospital.

Pitkin County sheriff’s deputies and a Forest Service Ranger were the first to arrive and killed the lion believed to be responsible for the attack after they found it wandering near the home.