4-Year-Old Injured in Cougar Attack at Olympic National Park

A 4-year-old child was attacked and bitten by a collared cougar while hiking with family near Victoria Overlook on Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park on July 20. The child was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and is in satisfactory condition. Park rangers, assisted by a canine team, located and killed the cougar the following morning after the attack, and authorities confirm there are no ongoing threats to the public. The area was temporarily closed following the incident, and the National Park Service is investigating and seeking witness accounts. Officials emphasize that cougar attacks on humans are rare in the region but advise visitors to keep children close, avoid hiking alone, and follow safety protocols if encountering a cougar. This is the second cougar attack on a child in the park in recent years, highlighting the importance of vigilance in cougar territory.