1. Lake Forest Attack (2014) In Lake Forest, California, a 5-year-old boy was playing near a trail when a mountain lion pounced on him. The boy's father managed to scare the cougar away by throwing a backpack at it. The child suffered injuries to his neck and head but survived the attack thanks to his father's quick thinking.
2. Banff National Park Incident (2001) While cross-country skiing in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, 24-year-old Frances Frost was fatally attacked by a mountain lion. Her body was discovered later, and the cougar was subsequently tracked and killed by park authorities. This tragic encounter emphasized the danger of mountain lions in remote wilderness areas.
3. Colorado Runner Attack (2019) In Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, Colorado, a trail runner named Travis Kauffman was attacked by a juvenile mountain lion. The cougar pounced on him from behind, but Kauffman managed to fight back, ultimately suffocating the animal by stepping on its neck. He sustained injuries to his face and arms but survived the ordeal.
4. British Columbia Cyclist Attack (2012) Two cyclists were riding on a trail in British Columbia when a mountain lion attacked one of them, dragging him off his bike. The other cyclist managed to fend off the cougar with a bicycle, and both cyclists eventually escaped with non-life-threatening injuries. The cougar was later euthanized by wildlife officials.
5. Southern California Hiker Encounter (2004) Hiker Jim Hamm and his wife Nell were walking in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, California, when a mountain lion attacked Jim, dragging him off the trail. Nell fought the cougar with a tree branch and a pen, eventually scaring it away. Jim survived but required extensive medical treatment for his injuries.
6. Montana Campground Attack (2010) In a remote campground in Montana, a mountain lion attacked a sleeping 10-year-old boy. The boy's parents and other campers managed to chase the cougar away, but not before it inflicted serious injuries to the child's face and head. The cougar was tracked and killed by authorities.