Mountain Lion Kills Boy, 10, In Colorado

GRAND LAKE, Colo. - As his family watched in horror, a 10-year-old boy was dragged away by a mountain lion that attacked and killed him as the group returned from a hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Mark Miedema was hiking several minutes ahead of his parents and 6-year-old sister Thursday.

"What we think may have happened - and this is pure theory - is that unfortunately Mark came along at the wrong time when the lion was in a hunting mode," said park spokesman Doug Caldwell. "Mountain lions don't distinguish between humans and deer and elk."

Mark's parents, Kathy and David Miedema, were able to scare the 88-pound mountain lion away, and Kathy Miedema - a registered nurse - tried to revive her son.

The lion, a female without cubs, eventually was tracked down and killed.

Wildlife officials estimate that the park, which draws about 3 million visitors each year, rarely has more than a dozen mountain lions in it at any given time.

Caldwell said two other people have been attacked by mountain lions in the park in the past two years.