A mountain lion attack in El Dorado County, Northern California, has left a 21-year-old man dead and his 18-year-old brother with serious injuries. The younger sibling, who has undergone several surgeries, is expected to recover fully from the attack. The incident is the first fatal incident of its kind in the state in nearly 20 years.
The attack occurred on a Saturday, March 23, 2024, in a secluded area near Georgetown, about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento.
At approximately 1:13 p.m., a distress call was placed to local police by the 18-year-old, who reported that a mountain lion had assaulted him and his brother during their quest for shed antlers near Georgetown, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. In the course of the incident, the young man became separated from his brother and sustained significant facial wounds.
When they arrived, deputies and medical technicians provided immediate care and transported him to a medical facility for advanced treatment. They began searching for the other brother and, at approximately 1:46 p.m., discovered him sprawled out on the ground, with the predatory cat in a stooped position lingering over him.
The officers discharged their firearms to chase the mountain lion away, allowing them to approach the victim. Upon reaching him, they acknowledged that the man had died from the attack.
Within a few hours, a professional trapper, in collaboration with wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), located and euthanized the mountain lion, according to Kyle Parker, a representative for the sheriff’s office. An examination showed the animal was a healthy male, close to 90 pounds in weight. DNA evidence confirmed its involvement in the attack.
CDFW records show that fatal mountain lion encounters are uncommon, with the last occurring in Orange County in 2004. Despite an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions living across California’s varied landscapes, most interactions with humans go unnoticed.
Since the dawn of the 20th century, under 50 mountain lion assaults on humans have been documented within the state’s borders. Out of these encounters, merely five have resulted in human fatalities. Records from the agency reveal that of these fatal incidents, three of the victims were alone at the time of the attack.
The sheriff’s office relayed on Sunday that the brother, who withstood the ordeal, has been subjected to several surgical procedures to address his injuries and is anticipated to recuperate completely. “The family expresses appreciation for the community’s prayers and sympathies but desires privacy as they navigate through this tragic occurrence,” the office reported.