On Saturday, Feb. 17 at 12:48 p.m., Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Officers received a report of a human-cougar incident with documented injuries on a trail northeast of Fall City, Washington in King County. A group of five cyclists were biking on a road when one of the cyclists, an adult female, was attacked by a cougar. She sustained injuries to her neck and face and is in stable condition.
“We are thankful that the victim is stable after the incident this weekend,” said Lieutenant Erik Olson. “The people on scene took immediate action to render aid, and one of our officers was able to arrive within minutes to continue medical aid and coordinate transport. We may have had a very different outcome without their heroic efforts.”
Fish and Wildlife officers removed a young male 75-pound cougar on arrival at the scene. WDFW is submitting the cougar for an examination at the Washington State University lab and will release more information on the age, disease testing, and body condition after the examination is complete.
Eyewitnesses to the incident indicated they saw a second cougar run through the scene. WDFW Police performed an exhaustive search the afternoon of Feb. 17 with the aid of hounds and did not find a second cougar.
For more information on Washington cougars visit WDFW’s website.
