Girl Injured In Stevens Co. Cougar Attack

A 9-year-old girl is being treated at a hospital after a cougar attack this morning in Northeast Washington, state wildlife managers report.

WDFW says the cougar has been killed at the scene of the attack, which was described as a camp the girl was attending near Fruitland, which is on the Lake Roosevelt side of southern Stevens County between Kettle Falls and Davenport.

“Our primary thoughts are with the girl and her family,” WDFW said in a brief statement.

A spokeswoman said the agency is investigating the incident. No further details were immediately available.

WDFW says that cougar attacks are very rare and offers tips on its website to prevent conflict, but the incident comes four years to the month after a cougar attacked two bicyclists outside North Bend, killing one. Three months later an Oregon hiker was killed by another big cat.