How the trail runner attacked by a mountain lion in Larimer County killed the animal

THE WESTERNER ^ | 2/5/19 | myself

[cowpoke]

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers confirmed through a necropsy that a jogger on Horsetooth Mountain in Larimer County survived a rare attack by a young mountain lion by suffocating the animal to death. “After additional investigation, including examination of the lion, we have confirmed the victim’s account that he was able to suffocate the animal while defending himself from attack,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials tweeted Tuesday morning.

It’s unclear whether the runner — who has not yet been identified publicly — strangled or smothered the mountain lion. He had no weapons, so he killed the cat with his bare, bleeding hands after climbing on top of the animal, state wildlife officials said.

“It’s an amazing story. Everyone is baffled and impressed,” said Rebecca Ferrell, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “He had no weapons, no knives or trekking poles with him. How did he do it? It’s pretty rare. That is definitely a twist on this, I’m sure.” The victim was running on West Ridge Trail when he heard something behind him, Ferrell said. As he turned, he saw the mountain lion pounce for his head and neck, she said. The mountain lion bit him on the face and wrist. The victim managed to partially block the attack with his forearms, Ferrell said. He managed to fight and break free from the mountain lion. Once he fended the mountain lion off, he counter-attacked the cat by getting on top of it, she said. There are still a few mysteries, though, including exactly how he suffocated the animal. Wildlife officers will go to the hospital Tuesday and ask him many questions about how he survived and then killed the mountain lion, Ferrell said. Wildlife officers also searched the trail where the runner told them his fight with the mountain lion took place, a Parks and Wildlife news release says. They found the dead mountain lion within feet of possessions the victim asked the officers to look for, it says. Although preliminary information from the necropsy confirms the jogger’s story about the cause of death, detailed information about the mountain lion’s injuries have not been released and could take several days before they are made public...MORE

On Monday evening, the victim was treated for serious injuries including facial bite wounds and lacerations to his arms, legs and back.

...detailed information about the mountain lion’s injuries have not been released and could take several days before they are made public. 

Apparently it is OK to release detailed information about the human's injuries, but details about the lion's injuries are being held close by officials? A dead cat has more of a right to privacy than the human victim?

Wildlife officers will go to the hospital Tuesday and ask him many questions about how he survived and then killed the mountain lion, Ferrell said.

They are not just asking him to describe what occurred, but instead will ask "many questions."

This suggests to me this is still an active investigation, and could explain why details of the animals injuries have not been disclosed, and won't be until the human has answered "many questions."

In other words, the human is being treated as a suspect in a murder case.

[lee martell]

Can you imagine the level of shrieking, hissing, ululating and caterwauling from the Mountain Lion during this struggle?

Imagine the most distracting, and bizarre Bruce Lee sounds, just before he lunges at you with those helicopter nunchucks,
magnify that by eight.

[Flick Lives]

Anyone who has ever tried to give a “domestic” cat a bath or a pill should have instant respect for this man.

True that! A common house cat in "crazy mode" is like a 10 pound demon from hell.

[Calvin Locke]

I think CO has the largest cats left in NA. They can reach about 150lbs, iirc.

So, when the LSM/gub'mint says "juvenile", is that like a 19 year old male still in middle school is still considered a juvie for criminal charges?

[laplata]

It looks pretty strange to me, like will they fine him for defending himself if he used a weapon?

><

Name one time that an animal attacked someone and the person killed it in self defense and was then prosecuted for killing the animal.

[RatRipper]

80 lb dog can do some damage. I wouldn’t want to tangle with an 80 lb cat, and I am pretty stout. A bigger 150 lb cat, though, most likely would not have been thrown off, nor could you keep him under you to kill him. Even at 80 lbs, glad it wasn’t me

[bagster]

It’s unclear whether the runner — who has not yet been identified publicly — strangled or smothered the mountain lion.

[lurk]

Make a monument at the spot. He choked out a lion with his bare hands. That is manly stuff.

[bagster]

Name one time that an animal attacked someone and the person killed it in self defense and was then prosecuted for killing the animal.

George Zimmerman?

Bernard Goetz?

[DuncanWaring]

A certain “White Hispanic” in Florida a few years ago?

[bagster]

Make a monument at the spot. He choked out a lion with his bare hands. That is manly stuff.

Tarzan.

[DuncanWaring]

Two seconds.

[unread]

"the human saving his life should be all that matters. This used to be a no brainer."

Yeah... there's a lot of people with no brains looking into this... :)

[heshtesh]

Maybe a K-bar too.

Make them 3 miles from my home.

[bagster]

Ha. I finally won one!!!

😝

[SaxxonWoods]

No, this guy is pretty shredded and still in the hospital. They would already know if his wounds didn’t make sense.

They have a procedure they have to follow in these cases, that’s all.

[RooRoobird20]

LOL!!! I have a BIG ginger tabby boy, he weighs over 20 pounds. He is solid muscle with a bit of a tummy. I’m very lucky that he has a sweet and gentle disposition.

If he ever decided to kill me I think I’d be in trouble. He’s incredibly strong!

I can barely wrestle my little 18 year old (7 pound) black cat to give her liquid medicine. Her kitty super-strength kicks in when I try to give her oral meds, it’s incredible.

[DainBramage]

What’s wrong ...cat got your tongue?

[SaxxonWoods]

I’ve seen yearling lions and I would not want to fight one, even if armed.

[CJ Wolf]

Tried in the court of public opinion, the Harambae gorrila killing

[Spacetrucker]

Dude is my hero, hands down.