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Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:55 pm**

Mother fights off cougar with bare hands - Telegraph

Mother fights off cougar with bare hands

A Canadian mother fought off a cougar that had pinned down her three-year old daughter in a forest north of Vancouver using nothing but her quick wit and bare hands police said.

Published: 3:41PM BST 18 Jun 2009

Maya escaped with only superficial wounds after the attack on Tuesday night Photo: CANWEST BROADCAST NEWS

The child, named Maya, escaped with only superficial wounds after the attack on Tuesday night near the town of Brackendale, 40 miles north of the western city of Vancouver, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

The girl's father, Pablo Espinosa, told CBC that his daughter thought the wildcat wanted to play.

Maya asked "Why didn't the kitty play nice?" Mr Espinosa told news network.

Maya and her mother, Maureen Lee, were walking on a wooded trail with their dog when the cougar pounced.

"All of a sudden it just flew on her, rolled her a couple of times and grabbed her," Ms Lee told CBC.

"She was on her back and (the cougar) had his paws on her head, and I just knew I had to react quick.

"So I just jumped in there and wedged myself between the cougar and her on the ground," the mother said.

Then, "I just got up and threw it off my back and grabbed (Maya) and (ran)."

Maya suffered puncture wounds to her left arm and head, but was reportedly recovering well.

The adult male cougar was tracked down and killed by conservation officers on Tuesday night.

Conservation officers used dogs to track down several cougars in the area after more than 30 encounters with the big cats were reported in the past 10 days, CBC said.

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:06 pm**

How sad the little girl wanted to know why the kitty didn't play nicely. I'm glad she and her mother are safe.

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:57 pm**

I sure hope they get those kitties trained.

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:00 pm**

What we won't do to protect our children brave women saved her daughter life without question.

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:14 pm**

CARLA;1205902 wrote: What we won't do to protect our children brave woman saved her daughter life without question.

Absolutely, nothing bizarre about that! I only know of one woman on here who probably would've just let the cougar eat the poor child. *ahem* :rolleyes:

It's important to remember that areas, such as here in BC, are prevalent with wild animals like cougars and bears and you should always be mindful of that. I'm not so sure had the mother known about the recent incidences with these cougars, that it was such a good idea to take her daughter for a walk through those woods, however... at least not without a gun or something. :p

One question, though... what was up with the dog? :rolleyes:

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:37 pm**

I saw this one the news, it was terrifying for the mother and child!

It was actually much worse for the mother.

thank god the child will be alright.

the mother was awesome, hats off!:guitarist:guitarist

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:21 am**

Odie;1205916 wrote: I saw this one the news, it was terrifying for the mother and child!

It was actually much worse for the mother.

thank god the child will be alright.

the mother was awesome, hats off!:guitarist:guitarist

I suppose she must have acted instinctively without any thought for her personal safety. God bless her.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:50 am**

OpenMind;1205982 wrote: I suppose she must have acted instinctively without any thought for her personal safety. God bless her.

She had said she never even thought about it........she was just there.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:17 am**

Odie;1206022 wrote: She had said she never even thought about it........she was just there.

Tis the power of love.:-6

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:20 am**

OpenMind;1206040 wrote: Tis the power of love.:-6

that is very true, as one time my son had an accident on the way to school, he bypassed a kids playground that was on cement......

he fell down the slide on his face.............onto cement.

school called me, I don`t even remember how I got to the school.

it was done out of instinct and fear.

when I reached him........I didn`t recognize his face, only his clothes.:-1

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:21 am**

Wow, what a mom! :-4

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:18 am**

Odie;1206044 wrote: that is very true, as one time my son had an accident on the way to school, he bypassed a kids playground that was on cement......

he fell down the slide on his face.............onto cement.

school called me, I don`t even remember how I got to the school.

it was done out of instinct and fear.

when I reached him........I didn`t recognize his face, only his clothes.:-1

That sounds like a pretty bad fall.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:45 am**

OpenMind;1206128 wrote: That sounds like a pretty bad fall.

omg..........it was just horrible.......face down on cement!:-5:-5

I am so grateful he was alright once they cleaned him up and stitched his face.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:46 am**

Odie;1206173 wrote: omg..........it was just horrible.......face down on cement!:-5:-5

I am so grateful he was alright once they cleaned him up and stitched his face.

That must have been a tremendous relief.