RENO, Nev. – A 14-year-old Nevada girl suffered minor injuries when she was attacked by a mountain lion while walking her dog, authorities said.
According to the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the attack occurred on Nov. 10 in the foothills of south Reno, KOLO-TV reported.
Wildlife officials said it was unclear what led to the attack, according to the television station. The teen suffered scratch wounds and the dog was unharmed.
“We don’t know details as far as why it attacked, how, if it went after the dog first, or how she fought it off. Both the girl and the dog are safe, but the girl did have minor punctures on her leg,” NDOW said in a statement to KTVN.
The teen was walking with her Great Pyrenees dog in the Virginia Foothills neighborhood in south Reno when the attack occurred, The Sacramento Bee reported. The area is situated in dry hills outside the city limits, where human development is scarce, according to the newspaper.
Game wardens immediately responded to track down the lion, KRNV-TV reported.
APHIS Wildlife Services later euthanized the animal.
Wildlife officials said mountain lion attacks are rare, but added there has been an increase in sightings of the animal, according to KRNV.
