A man hiking solo on the snowless runs of Taos Ski Valley was attacked by a mountain lion last week.
Adam Wheat, 29, was hiking when he heard a hissing sound behind him. When he turned around, a mountain lion lunged at him and scratched his chest.
The man was able to hike down and drove himself to a nearby store where he asked an employee to drive him to the hospital. The employee didn’t believe the man’s story at first, but Wheat showed him the enormous scratches and he was helped to the hospital.
Wheat also suffered a head injury in the attack. This is all that was reported. No word on other mountain attacks in the area or if rangers are trying to track the cat.
Read the story here.
This dude is REAL lucky he heard the cat hiss, and he turned around. Otherwise, it is likely that the cat’s jaws would have been around his neck, and he would have been history.
Having been stalked by one of there reputedly “shy,” and “scared of humans” animals (which is total B.S.) in Big Bend National Park–twice early one morning, and each time from about 25 feet–I can assure you that this type of event changes your perspective on a lot of things.
One of those things is–humans are not at the top of the food chain.
If you dig into the facts, mountain lion attacks are GREATLY on the increase, and pose a real threat to outdoorsmen who are in mountain lion country.