Mountain Lion On Loose After Fatal Attack

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[SoCal Pubbie]

LOS ANGELES -- A mountain lion is reportedly on the loose after attacking and killing a biker in a popular hiking and camping area in South Orange County. Two other bikers were also injured by the "aggressive animal."

The attack took place in the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in the Cleveland National Forest which is located near Lake Forest, Calif.

A male mountain biker between 20 to 30 years of age was attacked and killed by the mountain lion. When two female bikers came across the man they stopped to try and help him. At that point, the mountain lion, apparently trying to defend it's kill, pounced on one of the women.

The other woman reportedly saved her friend by throwing rocks at the mountain lion and scaring it away. As paramedics tried to help the victims, the animal continued trying to attack. Because paramedics are not armed, Orange County officials sent in an observer to help protect the group. The most seriously injured in the attack was airlifted to a local hospital.

Officials were initially trying to capture the animal, but because it keeps coming back and is described as "very, very aggressive," they are now considering it for termination. The animal is believed to weigh about 150-pounds. Officials had to use their helicopter unit to help chase the animal off. The area is being treated as a crime scene.

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[dtel]

They are the "Cat of Peace".

[paul51]

Mountain Lions are no more dangerous than your average kitten.

You're joking, right?

[Bullish]

People peddaling along do look like prey to these cats, ya' know?

Most of them are probably half starving and are opportunists by nature, being a cat.

Now they'll hunt it down and kill it like that does some kind of justice, when it was only doing what should be expected of it.

[paul51]

It's not a quest for justice. It's more to prevent a recurrence

[StriperSniper]

I saw a coyote run down our street a few months ago.

Mus've been fleeing the local puma. ;-)

[Capt. Tom]

[martin_fierro]

Maybe if the victim sang, "I loooooooove yooooouuuuuu...."

[dtel]

Back before the time warp that brought us to Bizarro World, it would be standard operating procedure to immediately 'euthanize' ANY animal that developed an affection for the taste of human flesh.

I'm sure the poor pussy had a terrible childhood and will do well in rehab after a few sessions with the Animal Pyschic.

[paul51]

They will probably need a permit requiring an impact analysis and a court order to shoot the dam thing

[Bullish]

My point being you can't expect wild animals and people to ever co-exist without this re-occurring.

They either have to keep the animals out, or the unprepared people away.

And it's a big DUH! to the park folks who thought they could ignore a real large problem right under their noses.

They really should have known and taken steps to try and prevent this kind of tragedy.

[Nick Danger]

the mountain lion, apparently trying to defend it's kill, pounced on one of the women.

Sister Mary Yardstick sez:

If "it is" would not fit there, then don't put an apostrophe in "its".

[SoCal Pubbie]

I saw an interveiw with the woman. The cat didn't let go till the guys joined in.

[lepton]

Seems like it's time to start carrying a gun on their bike rides...

There's no reason why anyone should have a gun. If there's a problem, just call the police (the ones without guns). :)

[SoCal Pubbie]

If by the park people you mean the county parks, no, there are signs posted everywhere. A young child who was mauled in Casper Park a few years ago made BIG news around here. The bikers really should be coinsidered to use the trails at their own risk.

[lepton]

After they rename this mountain lion an "upland fur person",

You think Doug had something to do with it?

[paul51]

Either way. Anyone, man or women, standing eye to eye with a mountain lion and trying to chase him off from a kill with rocks in an effort to help the victim gets my salute.

[lepton]

But you see, if the lion knows you're packing, he'd be less apt to attack...it's a deterrence thing.

Actually, that's not so far from the truth: Mountain lion attacks began to increase a few years after hunting them was completely banned. When people hunted them with guns, they learned to stay away from people.

[Redcloak]

It's a good thing that hunting mountain lions is banned in the State Constitution!

[expatpat]

Thanks. I thought I'd seen the signs to it when visiting a friend who lives in Coto de Caza. I've been going there over a span of thirty years, long before the Portola, when it was all orange groves and you had to go across a (usually) dry river bed near the base of Saddleback.

[Guillermo]

Here, the first day is gun season is the last day you actually see any deer (unless you're hunting for them, even then, they're still more elusive).