(LibertySociety.com) – Tragedy struck on March 23 after a 21-year-old man was killed by a mountain lion in Northern California. The man and his 18-year-old brother were in a remote area hunting for antler sheds when the big cat attacked them both. The brothers were separated during the ferocious attack. The younger brother called 911 and reported the attack at around 1:13 p.m. and deputies began their search for the pair just 30 minutes later. Accompanied by first responders, the deputies located the older brother, who was lying on the ground with the mountain lying crouched beside him. The deputies fired their weapons to scare the animal away so they could attempt to save the man’s life.
Unfortunately, the older brother died from his injuries before first responders could render aid. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said that the younger brother had “traumatic” facial injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing multiple surgeries, according to a spokesperson for his family. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reported that the agency had euthanized the mountain lion, and its forensic laboratory was “obtaining DNA information and the general health of the lion.”
The following day, the CDFW confirmed that the deceased mountain lion’s DNA matched the samples taken from the scene. Evaluation of the animal showed that it looked healthy and weighed 90 pounds, but further testing in the forensics lab would reveal any underlying health issues. The fatal attack was the first of its kind in 20 years in the state, according to CDFW data. In 2004, a 35-year-old man died in Whiting Ranch Regional Park after he was attacked by a mountain lion. Mountain lion attacks are extremely rare in California, with only three human fatalities since 1994. Mountain Lion Foundation director of policy Josh Rosenau said that mountain lions are generally scared of humans and only hunt deer.
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