Mountain lion kills US cyclist, mauls another


FE Team | Published: May 20, 2018 11:25:05 | Updated: May 23, 2018 11:50:32


Mountain lions are also known as Cougars. AP photo

US wildlife officers in Washington state have shot dead a mountain lion that killed a cyclist and mauled another.

The two cyclists were in North Bend, about 30 miles (50km) from Seattle, when the attack occurred. The injured man used his mobile phone to seek help.

The rider who died was dragged away by the mountain lion to its den, said King County sheriff spokesman Sergeant Ryan Abbot.

BBC reported citing Wildlife officials that it was only the second fatal cougar attack in Washington state in the past 100 years.

Tracker dogs were used to locate the animal, hours after the attack.

Mountain lions - also known as cougars - are the fourth largest cat species in the world, but they rarely attack humans.

Wildlife officials however say more cougar attacks have been reported in the western US and Canada over the past 20 years than in the previous 80.

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