A wildlife officer shot and killed a female mountain lion after she attacked a 7-year-old boy hiking with his family.

The 80-pound cat bit the boy's head, causing puncture wounds and scrapes on his legs, which likely came from the animal's claws.

Boulder County sheriff's officials say the boy's injuries are not life-threatening. He was hospitalized at The Children's Hospital, where word of his condition was not released.

According to Division of Wildlife spokesman Tyler Baskfield, the boy, whose name was not released, was the last in a single-file line of seven other hikers Saturday at a scenic area of Flagstaff Mountain.

He adds, "The father turned and saw the cat had a hold of the young boy." That's when the group began screaming at the cat and throwing rocks. They were finally able to free the boy.

The officer shot the cat in the same area of the attack. It was later killed in the interest of public safety.

"This is a very rare incident to happen," Baskfield said. "Mountain lions tend to be very elusive. Typically mountain lions don't want any part of people."