EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — A mountain lion killed one person and injured another in El Dorado County Saturday afternoon, according to officials.
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office says they were called around 1:13 p.m. about a mountain lion attack in a remote part of the county on Darling Ridge and Skid roads. Officials say two brothers, ages 21 and 18, were in the area antler shed hunting when a mountain lion attacked them.
Sheriff's deputies say the 21-year-old man was found dead at the scene with the mountain lion nearby 30 minutes after the 18-year-old called 911.
"The mountain lion was facing the deputies who attempt to get to the individual to render first aid. They discharged their firearms," said Sgt. Kyle Parker with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.
After being scared off, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife later found and euthanized the mountain lion. Its body will now be examined to "to obtain DNA information and general health of the lion," according to the department.
Details of what led up moments before the attack have not been released yet or what kind of mountain lion it was.
"Our greatest condolences go out to the family. It's a very just tragic event," said Parker.
The 18-year-old was taken to the hospital. It's unclear what his current condition is.
The attacks are rare in the area. The California Department of Fish and Wildfire reports the last fatal mountain lion attack in Northern California was almost 30 years ago — in the same county, El Dorado County — in April 1994 near the Auburn State Recreation Area. A 40-year-old woman was killed then.
People living near Georgetown say they'll take extra precautions when going out.
"(The attack) raises some concerns for security for us as we hike. We have animals, some farm animals, so we know we are very vulnerable," said Marcol Greenlaw, a Georgetown resident.
Locals say mountain lion sightings near Georgetown have become a more regular occurrence.
"We are overpopulated with them by all means. They used to be hunted back in when I was a kid up here and they banned hunting on them and we are overpopulated," said Tommy Gwinnup, a Georgetown resident. "The sightings are nonstop up here now. You see in packs two or three and that was not common."