http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...hter-snatched-mountain-lion-camping-trip.html
PICTURED: Four-year-old girl's puncture wounds after she was snatched from Idaho campsite by a 93-pound MOUNTAIN LION and rescued by her family
By Ariel Zilber For Dailymail.com and Clemence Michallon For Dailymail.com
00:59 GMT 14 Aug 2016, updated 14:54 GMT 14 Aug 2016
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Camping trip began innocently enough near Green Canyon Hot Springs
As the family ate dinner, the mother noticed a strange sight - a mountain lion strolling nearby
Thinking nothing of it, the family continued with their trip, only to be shocked moments later when they heard a harrowing scream
The four-year-old girl was in the clutches of the same mountain lion
Mother immediately gave chase, prompting the cat to release and flee
Luckily, the girl escaped with just a few scratches and bite marks
'She'll be fine', Jim Sevy, the girl's grandfather, says
A four-year-old girl is recovering from what could have been a tragedy on Friday night when she was momentarily snatched up by a mountain lion during a camping trip with her family in Idaho.
The incident occurred near Green Canyon Hot Springs, which lies just east of the town of Rexburg.
The girl, named Kelsi, was with her mother, siblings, and cousins as they were eating dinner when they saw a mountain lion nearby. The lion ran off and no one gave it a second thought.
Shortly afterward, the mother put the four-year-old girl into a tent for a nap and then took her six-year-old sibling into the woods to go to the bathroom.
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A four-year-old girl survived an attack by a mountain lion on Friday near Rexburg, Idaho and was left with bite marks (pictured) +7
A four-year-old girl survived an attack by a mountain lion on Friday near Rexburg, Idaho and was left with bite marks (pictured)
Kelsi (pictured after the attack)was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. She suffered scratches and bite marks on her arm and stomach +7
Kelsi (pictured after the attack)was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. She suffered scratches and bite marks on her arm and stomach
The family was camping near Green Canyon Hot Springs when the mountain lion grabbed Kelsi (pictured is the site of the attack) +7
The family was camping near Green Canyon Hot Springs when the mountain lion grabbed Kelsi (pictured is the site of the attack)
The incident occurred near Green Canyon Hot Springs, which lies just east of the town of Rexburg, Idaho. State officials say mountain lion sightings are rare +7
The incident occurred near Green Canyon Hot Springs, which lies just east of the town of Rexburg, Idaho. State officials say mountain lion sightings are rare
As the mother accompanied her child to the woods, the family was startled to hear the four-year-old scream.
'She got out of the tent because she couldn't find her shoe', the girl's grandfather, Jim Sevy, told East Idaho News. 'That's when the mountain lion grabbed her and started carrying her away'.
At this point, the mother went after the cougar, which released the girl and ran away.
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The mountain lion weighed 93 pounds and Kelsi 36 pounds, according to a blog post written by her grandmother.
The animal 'dropped Kelsi, turned her over and pounced on her with both paws,' the grandmother wrote.
It let go once it realized Kelsi's family was coming for her, according to her account.
Kelsi was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. She suffered scratches and bite marks on her arm and stomach.
'She is getting rabies shots and injections in her puncture wounds', Sevy told East Idaho News. 'She should be okay'.
'Her great-grandpa gave her a priesthood blessing and told her she will have stories to tell', he said.
The little girl has now earned the nickname Puma Princess. Her grandmother came up with it as a way to brighten the mood as Kelsi recovers from her injuries.
'When I saw Kelsi I wanted to hold her, but she was so sore, she had bite marks on her torso, legs and down to her little sweet feet,' Kelsi's grandmother wrote in her blog post.
'I kept kissing her with gratitude and love, finally she said, "Grandma, quit kissing me."'
'When lions do attack, records indicate that small children are often the targets', said Gregg Losinski, a representative of the Idaho Fish and Game Department (file picture) +7
'When lions do attack, records indicate that small children are often the targets', said Gregg Losinski, a representative of the Idaho Fish and Game Department (file picture)
Idaho authorities used hound dogs to track down the cat after midnight on Friday. The cougar was then promptly euthanized.
A park official interviewed by the East Idaho News said that it was rare to spot a cougar, let alone experience an attack by one.
'When lions do attack, records indicate that small children are often the targets', said Gregg Losinski, a representative of the Idaho Fish and Game Department. 'This family showed how vigilance and quick thinking can help avert a tragedy'.
Sevy knows just how close his family came to a horrific outcome.
'It could have gone the other way so easily', he said. 'She could have been gone and we would have never seen her. You really have to keep your eyes open when you're out camping'.
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