A 5-year-old boy was in fair condition on Saturday after his mother wrested him from a mountain lion that had pounced on the child outside their home near Aspen, Colo., the police said.

The boy, whose name was not disclosed, was playing outside with his older brother around 8 p.m. on Friday when his mother, who was inside the house, heard screaming.

She ran outside and saw a mountain lion on top of her son, who sustained injuries to his face, head and neck during the attack, the police said.