Mountain Lion Attacks Northern California Woman; Pet Dog Defends Owner

A Northern California woman was attacked by a mountain lion earlier this week.

The woman's pet dog came to the rescue as it fought ferociously even being outmatched by the large cat.

Both the owner and the dog survived the ordeal while sustaining severe injuries.

The mountain lion attack already reached local officials, who are currently on the lookout to capture the wild animal.

The incident also highlights the potential emergence of growing wild animal attacks on humans in the state, a sign of a growing human settlement.

Rare Mountain Lion Attack

Erin Wilson, a 24-year-old resident of rural Trinity County in California, drove to the Trinity River near the unincorporated community of Big Bar to take a walk in the afternoon of Monday, May 16, with Eva, her two, and a half years old Belgian Malinois dog.

Out of nowhere, the large cat suddenly leaped into Wilson and scratched her shoulder and jacket.

She called out to Eva while striking the mountain lion hard, according to Wilson via The Sacramento Bee.

The attack occurred in an area approximately a four-hour drive northwest of Sacramento.

Details of the Struggle

Prior to surviving the incident, the 25 kilograms (55 pounds) Eva was evidently dominated by the mountain lion who bit the dog's head and locked into it.

It was also reportedly at this time when Wilson attacked the lion with her fists, as well as hurled rocks and sticks, which she used to gouge its eyes.

The struggle came to an end when the mountain lion left the scene after the driver of a passing car intervened with a PVC pipe and beat the animal together with Wilson.

Wilson received two skull fractures, a sinus cavity puncture, and severe damage to her left eye.

Meanwhile, her dog went through seizures while on the way to the vet but has recovered already.

Search Operation

Members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have reportedly collected samples from their wounds for DNA analysis.

The authorities have set up an operation to trap the animal. Details were not immediately provided if the mountain lion will be killed or not upon capturing.

Following the attack, Wilson showed her appreciation for her dog and raised a GoFundMe page to raise money for vet expenses for Eva.

Mountain Lion Attacks

A mountain lion (Puma concolor), is also known as a cougar, catamount, panther, or puma.

A large cat species and a mammal belonging to the Family Felidae, they are native to the Americas; ranging from the Canadian Yukon to The Strait of Magellan according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

The NWF said that mountain lions are stealthy predators whose typical diet includes deer and other smaller animals, which makes them an important part of the ecosystem.

In line with the recent incident, mountain lion attacks against a human are considered to be rare.

However, the National Park Service (NPS) emphasized that such attacks are still possible.

Over the past century, there have been multiple reported deaths in relation to fatal cougar attacks in North America.