http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/01/09/mountain.lion/index.html
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The 110-pound mountain lion believed to
have attacked two mountain bikers Thursday -- killing one of them -- was
"stalking" sheriff's deputies when a helicopter spotted the big cat, a
discovery that may have saved their lives.
Authorities shot and killed the 2-year-old male cat, and DNA tests were
being performed Friday on the contents of its stomach to determine if it was
involved in both attacks.
The fatal attack marked only the sixth time in more than 110 years of
California record-keeping that a mountain lion has killed a human in the
state. There have been 41 fatal attacks nationwide, including 10 since 1990.
Orange County sheriff spokesman Jim Amormino said authorities received a
call at about 4:15 p.m. Thursday that a mountain lion had pounced on
mountain biker Anne Hjelle, 30, and dragged her by her head into the brush.
Cyclists worked to free Hjelle, who was in serious condition in a hospital
Friday.
Debbie Nichols said the lion dragged her friend 100 yards into the brush
while she held on in an effort to pull her friend from the mountain lion's
grip. She also screamed for help, eventually attracting the attention of
other bikers.
"I kept saying, 'I can't hold much longer,'" Nichols said.
The animal stared at its prey and never looked at Nichols, she said.
"He was definitely engaged in his prey," she said.
Nils Magmuson said he heard screams from the two women as he rode by on his
bicycle.
He said the women "sounded like they were in agony."
When he got to the scene, he said, the mountain lion had Hjelle by her head
and Nichols was holding onto her friend's legs.
Mountain lion 'out for blood'
"The mountain lion had her face in his mouth and would not let her go," he
said. "I was in shock."
He and other bikers threw rocks in an attempt to scare off the animal. A man
who was at the scene shortly after the attack said he frequents the trails
in the area and has often seen mountain lions, but described this one as
being "out for blood."
The mountain lion eventually disappeared into the woods.
The man who called 911 noticed a bicycle at the scene but said its cyclist
could not be accounted for.
He told the operator he thought their may be another victim.
While searching for the mountain lion, authorities found the body of a
second attack victim -- identified as Mark Jeffrey Reynolds, 35, an account
executive for a sports marketing company in Anaheim.
Two helicopters using heat-seeking devices located the mountain lion around
8 p.m.
"The animal was stalking three deputies, about ready to possibly attack
them," Amormino said. "Two deputies fired, killing the mountain lion."
When authorities shot the animal, it was within 50 feet of Reynolds' body,
which was partially covered with plant material.
An autopsy was being performed on Reynolds to determine an exact time of
death. Amormino said it appeared Reynolds' body had been there for two to 12
hours.
"The victim was disfigured by the animal," he said.
A second mountain lion in the area was struck by a car and killed.
Authorities said tests would also be performed on that animal.
The attacks occurred in the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, a popular area
for mountain bikers. Hjelle was riding with a friend on a trail when the
animal attacked.
The mountain lion is reclusive that typically doesn't want to be seen by
humans. Capt. Steve Miller with the Orange County Fire Department said
authorities were puzzled about what prompted this one to attack.
"Whenever you're in an area that has deer in the area, you are undoubtedly
in mountain lion habitat," Miller said. But he added, "It's still extremely
rare to have a lion that identifies a human being as an item on their menu."
Animal expert Jack Hanna told CNN he could only theorize that the lion may
have been injured, prompting it to change its usual behavior. Whatever the
reason, he said, the attack was an extremely rare event.
Mountain lions "are very elusive," Hanna said. "They don't want to see you
any more than you want to see them."
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