A group of five mountain bikers in Washington was attacked by at least one cougar on Saturday. One cyclist was injured, but the group managed to trap the cougar and call for help. Wildlife officials arrived and killed the cougar. Another cougar ran away.
The attack happened around 12:30 p.m. ET near Tokul Creek, about 5 miles north of Snoqualmie.
One of the bikers, a 60-year-old woman, was hurt but her injuries were not life-threatening.
The bikers used a bike to pin down the cougar until help arrived. Deputies, wildlife agents, and medical personnel responded to their emergency call.
A spokesperson for Washington State Fish and Wildlife said an officer shot the cougar. They also tried to find the second cougar with the help of a dog handler, but it wasn’t found by Saturday evening.
Wildlife officials said they prioritize public safety and usually kill animals involved in such incidents. However, they also noted that cougar attacks on humans are very rare, with only two fatal attacks and around 20 other recorded injuries in the last 100 years in Washington state.