A group of five cyclists was attacked by a cougar on a private timber trail northeast of Fall City, with a 60-year-old woman being injured in the attack. The cyclists fought off the cougar and were able to pin it beneath a bicycle until authorities arrived. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife killed one cougar at the scene and dispatched a hound handler to locate a second cougar that was seen in the area. Cougar attacks are rare in Washington state, with the department recording only two fatal attacks in the state.
In 2018, a cougar attacked two cyclists near North Bend, resulting in the death of 32-year-old S.J. Brooks and severe injuries to a friend. In response to the recent attack, Fish and Wildlife officials advised the public to stay away from the area near Fall City. They also provided recommendations for how to behave if encountering cougars in the wild, including not running, facing the cougar and speaking firmly while slowly backing away, and using bear spray if a cougar attacks.
The 60-year-old woman who was injured in the cougar attack was taken to Harborview Medical Center and was in satisfactory condition. The Department of Fish and Wildlife killed one cougar at the scene of the attack and dispatched a hound handler to find a second cougar. Cougar attacks are rare in Washington state, with only two recorded fatalities in the state. In response to the attack, the public is urged to stay away from the area near Fall City, and officials provided recommendations for safely encountering cougars in the wild.
