Young Mauling Victim in Surgery Again : Lion Warnings Posted in Caspers Park

Temporary paper signs warning of the possible presence of mountain lions were posted Friday along hiking trails at Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park where a 5-year-old girl was attacked by one of the big cats last month.

The signs, to be replaced later by permanent metal ones now being constructed, will greet an anticipated 1,500 to 2,000 visitors to the park’s twice-yearly open house Sunday.

The victim of the attack, Laura Michele Small of El Toro, was scheduled for an operation Friday night at Mission Community Hospital in Mission Viejo in an effort to save her right eye, according to her father, Donald Small. It will be her fourth operation for head injuries since she was mauled March 23, he said.

“She will still require a lot of speech and physical therapy,” Small said. “She can’t walk, can’t use her right hand and has some paralysis of the throat.”

He added that he feels the “small warnings on paper” are “not adequate warnings to the public.”

A mountain lion that officials believe was the one that attacked Laura Michele was killed by trackers one day after the mauling. Park officials closed Caspers for three weeks but reopened it April 14.

State and county wildlife authorities agree that Caspers is no more dangerous than any other park in a wilderness area because the attack had been by a “rogue” cat that was killed. They said the presence of mountain lions in backcountry areas is a natural occurrence.

The signs put up Friday show a sketch of a mountain lion and warn hikers that:

“Mountain lions may be found in this area. They are important members of this natural environment. Lions are quiet, secretive and seldom seen. Give them distance and respect.”

Additionally, leaflets offering similar advice are passed out to each visitor, Senior Park Ranger Bruce Buchman said. He added that warnings also are posted on such other natural hazards as rattlesnakes and poison oak.