Rabid mountain lion pounces on CO deputy in ‘extremely unusual’ attack, video shows

Law enforcement shot and killed a rabid mountain lion that wrestled a Colorado deputy to the ground and attacked a resident, according to officials.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that rangers and game wardens responded to a report of a mountain lion attack. When deputies arrived, the mountain lion attacked a female deputy, according to a news release.

Witnesses told the Fort Collins Coloradoan that the deputy is “lucky to be alive,” the news outlet reported.

“To see the mountain lion coming right at us was pretty spooky,” witness Tim Satterly told the Loveland Reporter Herald.

Another witness told reporters that if the deputy didn’t put her arm up, the witness thought the animal would’ve gotten her neck, according to the news outlet.

Officials said the deputy’s injuries were not life-threatening, according to the Coloradoan. The other person attacked was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“An extremely unusual case. I could not be more proud of the response by deputies and county park rangers on this incident yesterday,” Sheriff Justin Smith said in a statement on Facebook. “When I visited my deputy at the hospital yesterday she was in .... (great) spirits, despite a significant bite to her shoulder. She is one tough cookie!”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say the area is “mountain lion country,” according to CBS4. Public Information Officer Jason Clay told the news outlet that mountain lions find prey in urban areas.

Deputies fired multiple shots at the mountain lion, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The mountain lion continued moving east across the river, and a Parks and Wildlife game warden shot and killed the mountain lion.

Parks and WIldlife officials said in a news release Friday that the mountain lion tested positive for rabies.

“Both bite victims have been notified and the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment is managing the rabies exposure investigation and response,” the news release said.

Officials said this was the state’s 23rd mountain lion attack on humans since 1990, according to the Coloradoan.

This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Rabid mountain lion pounces on CO deputy in ‘extremely unusual’ attack, video shows."