Mountain lion attacks boy in Big Bend

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas (AP) - Officials at Big Bend National Park in West Texas are looking for a mountain lion that attacked and injured a 6-year-old boy from Leander, Texas as he walked with three other people on Sunday evening.

"We weren't on a trail or down in the woods or anything we were on a sidewalk between the restaurant and hotel," said Jason Hobbs, the boy's father. "It [mountain lion] had a hold of his face, the cat was clamped on his face. [I] reached down and got my pocket knife out and stabbed the cat in the chest and it let go at that point."

Park spokesman David Elkowitz said the boy, Rivers Hobbs, was treated for puncture wounds and scratches and released from a hospital in Alpine.

Despite what the stitches show on Rivers face, he said he didn't cry once. 

The lion remains on the loose.

Rangers began evacuating trails and campsites early Monday. Closed areas include the Chisos Basin, Window Trail, the Pinnacles, Boulder Meadow and Juniper Flats.

Elkowitz said the animal that attacked the boy will be killed if found.

A representative with the Big Bend National Park said there were two mountain lion attacks that day in the same area; the other family was able to fend off the animal with a backpack.