Posted on 09/28/2010 8:19:22 PM PDT by Immerito
On August 19, 1996, 36-year-old Cindy Parolin and three of her children were riding horses in the Similkameen backcountry, 30 miles northwest of Princeton, British Columbia. Like their mother, 6-year-old Steven, 11-year-old Melissa and 13-year-old David felt a mixture of wonder and excitement as they traveled through the vast wilderness. The four were headed to a cabin to join Parolin's husband and other son for a camping vacation.
As the family rode along, the horses grew increasingly nervous. The cause became starkly clear when a cougar suddenly launched itself from the undergrowth at Steven. The animal missed its mark, landing on the horse just in front of the boy's saddle. The great cat scrambled to hold onto the horse's neck but lost its grip and fell to the ground.
Undaunted, the snarling cougar leapt again and attempted to pull Steven from the saddle. This time it got away with only a sock and shoe, but the contortions of the spooked horse caused the boy to fall to the ground. The cat was on the youngster in an instant, wrapping the struggling child in a clawed death-grip.
Parolin watched the unfolding scene in horror as the cat bared its fangs and then bit into the boy's skull. A knowledgeable outdoorswoman and avid hunter, she knew that her son would be dead in a matter of seconds -- his neck broken, skull crushed or artery lacerated in the lion's terrible jaws. If only she had her rifle...but hunting season was weeks away, and Canadian firearms laws made off-season carry all but impossible. She had to act quickly.
Screeching a primal scream, the desperate mother leapt from her mount and rushed to Steven's aid.
(Excerpt) Read more at outdoorlife.com ...
What a great lady she was for protecting her children until the very end of her life.
This is an outstanding article about the problem of man having to learn to live with mountain lions, it’s bunk!
Every time I read a story about how rare lion attacks are on humans I think about the humans that have been killed or maimed by lions. To those humans it was not a rare thing, it was a 100% chance of attack.
Lions that are accustomed to living around man and not being shot at or trapped lose their fear of man. States that protect lions only invite attacks on humans and their pets or livestock.
Good reference article and I’ll file it. Thanks for the ping, IM.
If I recall right though, the latest attacks cited where from 2000. Did all the cougars go away suddenly? Just asking.
we also have wolves....its only a matter of time....
Dang, I camped in Winthrop just a couple of months ago. That’s right in the heart of grizzly country.
A sharpened six foot walking stick is better than a knife.
Don’t feel bad. I didn’t know they were in our state until I looked it up a few minutes ago. We like to camp over there too. Fortunately, there are no Grizzly’s where I live, Port angeles.
But we do have Black Bear and Cougars on my mountain. I’ve heard a cougar in the wooded area of my property, sounds like a woman screaming. I have never seen one here but a neighbor has. I have only found bear droppings and tracks... they like my berries.
I want to go camping some more... I hate winter! ;>)
From your name, I gather you are from the south?
I’m from south Florida originally, but have been in Seattle for the last 51 years or so. Dang, that makes me sound old!
I’m in Burien.
apparently had a wolf sighted near Rockford WA.
prob’ly just a big coyote....
Don’t throw it. Anchor one end into the ground or against a tree and let the animal charge into it. Don’t let go of it, you want every puncture wound to be fully open so they can bleed out.
At an animal preserve in CO, I witnessed the feeding of a pair of cougars. They tossed some whole frozen chickens into the pen. When I heard them crunching all I could think was, “That could be a human head.”
I was expecting pictures of Demi Moore...
Maybe not.
I live near Seatac, and have seen a lot of coyotes in that area. Strange.
I am rather overcome with sadness for this family:
“It must have been horrible,” says Ms. Johnson. “ Cougars pounce and back off, pounce and back off. Cindy was of average height, five-foot-five, and of average weight, but she was fit. The animal must have spent the entire time wearing her down.”
She still, according to the first link, had a look of fierce defiance on her face when she asked, after an hour of combat, whether her children were alright!? What manner of warrior is this? I can only remind myself that she got to hear that her children were alright before she ‘relaxed and said she was dying’. That was what she fought for - that was what she won, the hard way. I am glad that they are acknowledging this woman with an award - it would be wrong not to honor such a person.
Hiking or jogging, I carry a handgun. Lions, bears, & wolves can create quite a surprise.
Wrestling a cougar for over an hour! Remarkable story.... an understatement. Never get between a loving and devoted mother and her kids....
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