EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – A tragic incident unfolded in El Dorado County on Saturday when a mountain lion attacked two brothers, resulting in one fatality and severe injuries for the other. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office reported that the attack occurred around 1:13 p.m. in a remote area near Georgetown.
According to authorities, the victims, aged 18 and 21, were on an antler shed hunting expedition near Skid and Darling Ridge roads when the lion pounced on them. During the violent encounter, the 18-year-old suffered traumatic facial injuries and became separated from his brother. Paramedics quickly arrived at the scene at 1:34 p.m. and provided immediate medical attention before rushing the injured victim to a nearby hospital.
At approximately 1:46 p.m., deputies located the mountain lion near a body and discharged their firearms to scare it away. Tragically, the 21-year-old had already succumbed to his injuries. The sheriff’s office identified the victims as residents of El Dorado County.
Following the incident, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife euthanized the mountain lion in the vicinity of the attack. The animal’s body has been sent to the department’s forensics lab for further examination to obtain general health and DNA information.
Mountain lion attacks on humans are relatively uncommon, with verified cases occurring only once or twice per year, as reported by California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency’s records, last updated in May 2022, indicate that this incident in El Dorado County marks the fourth mountain lion attack resulting in death in California since 1986.
As authorities continue to investigate this tragic event, it serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risk in encounters with wildlife and the importance of remaining vigilant in areas prone to such incidents.