A fatal mountain lion assault occurred in El Dorado County, Northern California, resulting in the death of a 21-year-old man and serious injuries sustained by his 18-year-old brother.
The younger victim, who has undergone multiple surgeries, is expected to recover fully.
It was California’s first deadly mountain lion incident in almost two decades.
The attack occurred on Saturday, March 23, 2024 in a remote area near Georgetown, approximately 50 miles northeast of Sacramento.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call from the 18-year-old around 1:13 p.m., who reported that he and his brother were attacked by a mountain lion while they were searching for shed antlers near Georgetown. The younger brother was separated from his sibling during the incident and suffered severe facial injuries.
Upon arrival, deputies and medical technicians immediately provided care and transported him to a medical facility for further treatment. They started a search for the older brother and found him around 1:46 p.m., lying on the ground with the mountain lion hovering over him.
The officers fired their weapons to scare the predator away, allowing them to approach the victim. On reaching him, they found that he had succumbed to his injuries from the attack.
A professional trapper, aided by wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), located and euthanized the mountain lion within a few hours, according to the sheriff’s office representative, Kyle Parker. The animal, a healthy male weighing around 90 pounds, was confirmed to be the attacker through DNA evidence.
While there are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions residing across California, the CDFW’s records indicate that fatal encounters, such as the last one in Orange County in 2004, are rare. Most human interactions with these animals go unnoticed.
Since the start of the 20th century, fewer than 50 mountain lion attacks on humans have been recorded in California. Of these incidents, only five resulted in human deaths. The agency’s records reveal that three of the victims were alone during the attacks.
The sheriff’s office stated that the surviving brother, following multiple surgeries, is expected to fully recover. “The family expresses appreciation for the community’s prayers and sympathies but desires privacy as they navigate through this tragic occurrence,” the office reported.
