A 70-year-old hiker in Utah fought off a mountain lion that ambushed him in a canyon final week, telling native reporters he used solely a rock and his hand.
The mountain lion attacked the hiker round 1 p.m. Thursday in Diamond Fork up Spanish Fork Canyon, the Utah County Sheriff’s Workplace stated. The 70-year-old escaped critical harm, struggling lacerations on his arms and head.
The hiker, recognized as Evan Ray Nilsen, instructed KUTV that he was feeling “alright” following the assault however described the encounter as “a shock and a half.”
“A mountain lion hit me proper on the facet, knocked me down the hill,” Nilsen stated. “I sort of hunched up or folded up, and it come down round behind me. And I hit it with a rock – simply with my hand with a rock – and it took off.”
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A mountain lion, just like the one pictured above, ambushed a 70-year-old hiker in Utah’s Spanish Fork Canyon on Thursday. (iStock)
Nilsen stated he was capable of drive himself down the canyon and acquired handled at Spanish Fork Hospital.
Scott Root, conservation supervisor with the Utah Division of Wildlife Assets, instructed news retailers that aggressive encounters between people and mountains are “very uncommon.”
Officers stated aggressive encounters between mountain lions and people are “very uncommon.” (Dennis Quick / VWPics/Common Pictures Group by way of Getty Pictures, File)
“A number of components could have contributed to this assault — a youthful lion might not be as conscious of people, it might be it was merely startled or defending a kill,” Root instructed McClatchy Information, including there are totally different causes that would trigger an animal to behave aggressive.
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The Utah Division of Wildlife Assets is searching for the cougar concerned within the encounter and can euthanize the animal.
Following the assault, the company posted info on what hikers ought to do in the event that they encounter a cougar.
“Battle again in case you are attacked!” the company’s steerage reads, noting that it is best to defend your head and neck. “In case you are aggressive sufficient the cougar will in all probability flee.”
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Officers stated that people ought to “by no means run” from a cougar and to as an alternative preserve eye contact, rise up tall and make your self look greater by waving your arms or jacket above your head. The steerage additionally says to speak firmly in a loud voice and slowly again away.
