News from Washington.

A cougar appeared to be stalking two cyclists as they biked over the weekend in the Cascade Mountains near Seattle. Suddenly, the animal charged, a survivor of the animal’s attack that killed one told authorities.

The man said he hit the cougar in the head with his mountain bike, and the animal ran into the woods. But as he and the other cyclist were catching their breath and getting back on their bicycles, the animal returned and fastened its mouth on the survivor’s head, crunching down, shaking the cyclist side to side like prey, King County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Abbott said Sunday, describing the man’s account.

The cyclist managed to get loose when the cougar decided to chase his friend, who was running away, according to Abbott.

[ … ]

When the cougar released him, Sederbaum jumped back on his mountain bike to get away. As he looked back, he saw the cougar dragging Brooks into the woods, Abbott said.

He rode 2 miles for cellphone reception to call 911, according to KOMO.

When sheriff’s deputies located Brooks, the cougar was standing on top of the cyclist’s body, Abbott said. Brooks had been “dragged a short distance to where the animal partially buried the body under a log,” Myers said.

First of all, what a pussy.  He saw someone being dragged away to be killed by the cat and literally hopped on his bike to get away.

Folks, every man dies.  It matters how you live, and it matters how you die.  Turning someone over to a beast because you’re afraid is not a manly thing to do, because man is made in God’s image.

Second, you’d better carry a large bore handgun in the bush, boy.  Don’t ever do something like that again – either failing to carry means of self defense, or leaving someone in distress.

Via WoG, a cougar attack.

Authorities say a dead hiker whose body was recovered this week was likely killed by a cougar, marking the first fatal attack by a wild cougar in Oregon and the second in the Pacific Northwest this year. Search and rescue teams found the body of Diana Bober, 55, on Monday off a trail in the Mount Hood National Forest in Welches, about 40 miles southeast of Portland. Her body was several miles from where searchers found her car last week near a ranger station. Bober, an avid hiker who often trekked in the Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge area, was last heard from by family and friends on Aug. 29, the AP reports. She was reported missing on Friday and it’s still unclear when she started her hike, said Sgt. Brian Jensen of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Her body had injuries consistent with a cougar attack and a medical examiner ruled out the possibility that she was mauled after she died of another cause, Jensen said.

The article title is amusing: “Unprecedented Event.”  David has something to say about that.

I’m reminded of another cougar attack on bikers in Washington.

A former Topekan was attacked and killed by a cougar Saturday in North Bend, Wash., while biking on a remote, dirt road.

SJ Brooks, who was known in Topeka as Sonja Brooks while attending Topeka High School, according to a yearbook, was with a friend when the attack occurred.

Brooks, who identified with the pronoun they, encountered a cougar, which began stalking the bikers during the ride. The cougar first attacked Brooks’ friend, Issac Sederbaum, after an attempt to scare off the cougar by swinging his bike at it. The cougar latched onto Sederbaum’s head and Brooks took off into the woods, according to The Associated Press.

The cougar then ran after Brooks and attacked them. Brooks was severely mauled and suffered wounds to the legs, head, face and neck, The Seattle Times reported.

I like this thing of identifying any way you want.  I’ve never really liked my name.  So I’d like my readers to know that henceforth, I identify as “Brutus Maximus, The Destroyer.”

Following up the revelation via the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife that sticks and rocks are more effective weapons than guns against mountain lion attacks, reader Fred is still questioning that guidance.

POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) – Idaho State University officials are warning people to use caution after a second mountain lion was spotted on the Pocatello campus in less than a week.

On May 11, Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials tranquilized and relocated a cougar from a trail south of the university. On Wednesday, ISU officials issued a campus-wide alert after a resident reported spotting a mountain lion near the school’s Stephens Performing Arts Center.

ISU public safety officers, Pocatello police and state wildlife officials searched the area but didn’t find the big cat.

Mountain lion sightings in and around Pocatello, as well as elsewhere in the state, happen throughout the year, especially in areas that are on the edge of the urban-wildlife interface.

Since only the King’s men may hunt the royal forests (tip to reader Josh for the comment), Fred may have to test this hypothesis for us by going into the bush in Idaho without a gun to see if a stick is more effective against a big cat.  I think I’ll let Fred go on this adventure by himself.

From reader Fred Tippens, news from the northeast.

NORTH BEND, Wash. — One man was killed and another seriously injured when they encountered a cougar Saturday while mountain biking in Washington state, officials said.

Authorities said the two men were on a morning bike ride in the foothills near North Bend when the attack occurred. The town is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Seattle.

The mountain lion ran into the woods and officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Game later tracked it down and shot and killed it, said Capt. Alan Myers of the state’s Fish & Wildlife Police.

The 31-year-old survivor was taken to a hospital in Seattle. He was initially listed in serious condition in the emergency room but was alert and talking; his condition was later upgraded to satisfactory, The Seattle Times reported.

A search and rescue team was dispatched to recover the body of the deceased man.

KIRO-TV reported that the injured man called 911 shortly before 11 a.m. and shouted, “Can you hear me? Help!” and then the call hung up.

Authorities found the cougar standing over the body of the dead biker, the station reported.

Over 6,000 cougars live in Oregon, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It’s rare for people to see or encounter them, the agency said, but sightings have increased.

The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife says that adult male cougars average about 140 pounds but can hit 180 pounds and measure 7 to 8 feet long, counting the tail. Adult females are about 25 percent smaller. The agency says the cats can leap 30 feet from a standstill and 15 feet straight up. Their normal prey includes deer, elk, and wild sheep.

That’s terrible news for the bikers.  Fred asks a question: “Is this the stone age?”  Doubtless, he’s referring to the counsel given by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife if one comes upon a cougar. ” … If in the very unusual event that a cougar attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, tools or any items available.”

Don’t carry a big bore gun with you, leave that at home.  Sticks are apparently more effective.  For Fred, I’m surprised that you don’t understand!  Cougars get a fighting chance too, don’t you know.  So says Mother Earth, or All Mother.  Or somebody.  Or something.