Mountain Lion Stalks Family on California Bike Trail

A deputy shot and killed a mountain lion that was stalking a family on a bike trail in El Dorado County, California, on Jan. 11.

According to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the family, consisting of a couple, their two young children, and two dogs, called 911 to report they were being followed by the big cat.

“It doesn’t sound real when I tell this story,” Nicole Pfingsten, whose family was followed by the mountain lion, told CBS Sacramento. “We just started being very, very cautious approaching the area. That’s when the cat saw us.”

Despite the family and others yelling at the cat, it continued to follow.

“It was pretty scary. I was mostly trying to keep my 3-year-old in the stroller and just explain to him we’re okay. Don’t be scared. Let Daddy lead us back,” Pfingsten said.

When the deputy arrived to the scene, he tried yelling at the lion, which was pacing back and forth across the trail, but it continued walking toward the deputy. He then fired a warning shot in an attempt to scare the lion away. When that didn’t work, the deputy shot and killed it.

“It sounds like the mountain lion was ultimately about 10 to 15 yards from him when the mountain lion was ultimately stopped. So, it was moving toward him in a rapid manner,” said Sgt. Eric Palamberg of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

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