GEORGETOWN, Calif. — Tragedy struck in a remote area of Northern California when a mountain lion attack claimed the life of a 21-year-old man and left his 18-year-old brother injured while they were out hunting for antler sheds.
Authorities were alerted to the attack when the younger brother called for help around 1:13 p.m. The two siblings had been separated during the incident, with the caller sustaining severe facial injuries. Deputies and paramedics promptly responded, providing aid to the injured brother before transporting him to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
After a search, deputies located the missing brother near the mountain lion at 1:46 p.m. In a desperate attempt to reach the victim, the deputies were forced to discharge their firearms to scare off the animal. Tragically, they discovered that the 21-year-old had succumbed to his injuries.
Kyle Parker, a spokesperson for the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, emphasized the rarity of such fatal mountain lion attacks, noting the infrequency of such incidents over the past three decades in California. Following the attack, wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the El Dorado County trapper located and dispatched the mountain lion.
Officials are now focused on determining the cause of the attack and investigating the circumstances that led to this tragic event. Despite the rarity of mountain lion attacks on humans, authorities remain vigilant in monitoring and studying these animals to prevent future incidents.
According to California wildlife officials, this incident marks the first fatal mountain lion attack in the state in 30 years. Past records show that since 1890, there have been fewer than 50 reported mountain lion attacks on humans in California, with only six of them resulting in fatalities. The majority of these attacks occurred when individuals were alone, highlighting the importance of being cautious in areas where these animals are known to inhabit.
As authorities continue their investigation, the community mourns the loss of the young man and grapples with the tragic circumstances surrounding the deadly mountain lion attack.