Fatal Mountain Lion Attack: One Brother Killed, Other Injured

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Mountain lion.Photo byPriscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦onUnsplash

A fatal mountain lion attack occurred in a remote area west of Lake Tahoe in Northern California, marking the first such incident in the state in two decades.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office reported that an 18-year-old man contacted 911 to report being attacked alongside his brother in Georgetown, a town north of Placerville.

"A fatality like this is extremely rare," said Deputy Parker. "The two brothers were out antler shed hunting and that's when they were attacked."

The man who made the call suffered severe facial injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Authorities searched for the brother and discovered him with a mountain lion nearby.

Deputies took action by firing shots to scare off the animal so they could assist the man on the ground.

"When you hear about something like this, you get a little bit more on the edge," said a deputy.

Unfortunately, the 21-year-old man succumbed to his injuries during the attack.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the El Dorado County Trapper were sent to the area.

Law enforcement officials reported that the mountain lion found near the scene was euthanized by county and California Department of Fish and Wildlife authorities on Saturday.

The animal's body was then transported to a department forensics lab for genetic and health analysis, as stated by the state agency.

The residents in the vicinity noted that while mountain lion sightings are frequent in the area, this is the first instance they have encountered of a fatal attack.

"I was surprised to hear that it was going after humans. It's not uncommon for them to go after livestock and we've actually had that happen to some of our livestock," said a resident.

"Everybody is aware of it, the only precaution you can take is to keep an eye out, but mountain lions are sneaky, and you'll never really see them," said another resident.

At present, officials are simply urging residents to stay vigilant while they are out and about.