On Saturday (March 23, 2024), a mountain lion fatally attacked a 21-year-old man in El Dorado County while also injuring his younger brother. It has been almost two decades since a mountain lion killed a person in California. 

     At 1 p.m. Saturday in a national forest in El Dorado, 21-year-old Taylen Brooks and 18-year-old Wyatt Brooks searched for antler sheds in a hilly forested landscape. Taylen Brooks’ brother Wyatt Brooks survived the attack but was reported with many injuries. The last time there was a death from a mountain lion was in 2004 when a 35-year-old man was killed in Whiting Ranch Regional Park in Orange County.

     Mountain lion Attacks are extremely rare, as mountain lions are more interested in avoiding human contact than seeing humans as prey. Rosenau stated, “When something like this happens, it’s obviously scary, but it’s still worth bearing in mind how rare this is and how much mountain lions try to avoid people when they can.”

     Mountain lions inhabit diverse habitat types across California, including temperate redwood forests, coniferous/deciduous forests, coastal chaparral, foothills, and mountains. Mountain lions mostly like hunting at night, which is why it’s infrequent to see them hunting in broad daylight.

     If you ever run into a mountain lion while hiking or going on a walk, here is what to do, according to the County of San Diego Parks and Recreation, to protect yourself. 

• Stay calm, Hold your ground, and back away slowly
• Do not approach the lion, especially if it is a mountain lion
• Do not run from the lion, as they like to run
• Do not crouch or bend over
• If the mountain lion moves in your direction, try to look intimidating
• If it continues to come in your direction, start throwing things at it and run
• If it attacks, you do all you can to fight back

     Although mountain attacks rarely happen, it’s important to always watch your surroundings, as an attack could be around the corner. So the next time you want to go on a hike or a walk, you should carry something to protect yourself from any dangers.