A 7-year-old boy hiking with his family was attacked by a mountain lion, a wildlife official said.

The child was in stable condition at Boulder Community Hospital, but details of his injuries were not immediately available.

The boy, whose name was not released, was apparently was the last in line of a group taking a short hike Saturday at a scenic area of Flagstaff Mountain, Division of Wildlife spokesman Tyler Baskfield said.

"The father turned and saw the cat had a hold of the young boy," he said. The group began screaming at the cat and throwing rocks and was able to free the boy, he said.

Wildlife officials set traps for the mountain lion and planned to put it down in the interests of public safety.

Baskfield said the mountain is prime habitat for the cats, and there had been several recent sightings of mountain lions in west Boulder.

"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."