In a tragic incident that unfolded in the remote foothills of Northern California, a 21-year-old man lost his life to a mountain lion attack, while his 18-year-old brother sustained serious injuries. The event occurred near Georgetown in El Dorado County, a location known for its natural beauty but also for the presence of wildlife, including mountain lions.
The young men were in the area searching for shed antlers when they encountered the mountain lion. The attack prompted the 18-year-old to place an urgent call to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, reporting the incident and expressing concern for his brother, from whom he had been separated during the ordeal.
Responding to the call, sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene shortly after 1:30 p.m. They found the younger brother first, attending to his facial injuries, which were described as traumatic. A search for the older brother led deputies to a harrowing sight: he was found on the ground with the mountain lion still looming over him, reported the New York Post.
In an attempt to rescue the victim, deputies discharged their firearms, aiming to scare away the predator. The mountain lion momentarily positioned itself between the deputies and the victim before eventually fleeing the scene. Despite their efforts to save him, the older brother was found deceased, via CBS News.
Following the attack, specialists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with an El Dorado County Trapper, were dispatched to the area. They successfully located the mountain lion responsible for the attack, which was subsequently euthanized to prevent further incidents.
The identities of the brothers involved in this tragic event have not been disclosed to the public. Additionally, there has been no further update on the condition of the younger brother who survived the attack. Georgetown, the town near where the attack took place, is a small historic community with just over 2,000 residents, situated roughly 50 miles northeast of Sacramento. This incident marks a rare occurrence of mountain lion attacks on humans in the area.
According to records maintained by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, there have been nearly two dozen such attacks since the mid-1980s, with the last fatal incident occurring in Orange County in 2004. This recent tragedy underscores the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters and the importance of exercising caution in areas known to be inhabited by predators like mountain lions.