First Fatal Mountain Lion Attack Since 2004

By Jondi Gumz

A 21-year-old man hunting for shed antlers in remote El Dorado County died after being attacked Saturday afternoon by a mountain lion, and his 18-year-old brother, who was also attacked, is alive after undergoing multiple surgeries.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said it authorized a professional trapper who located and euthanized a mountain lion in the area the attack a few hours after the encounter. This lion was a male, weighing about 90 pounds and appearing healthy; the CDFW lab determined that DNA samples from the scene match samples from the lion carcass.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21, died during the mountain lion attack and his brother, 18-year-old Wyatt Brooks, has undergone multiple surgeries. Both are from Mt. Aukum an hour away.

“We are all devastated by the tragic loss of Taylen yet thankful Wyatt is still with us and are well-aware the outcome could have been even worse,” a statement from family provided by the sheriff’s office read.

Family said Taylen loved the outdoors, enjoyed fishing and playing guitar. Wyatt has been in the Mt. Adams Fire Academy and aspires to work for Cal Fire.

Georgetown, population 2,367, is a historic place in Gold Country and is a gateway to the El Dorado National Forest.

The brothers were hunting for antlers Saturday afternoon when the attack happened.

The younger brother called for help, and deputies responded, discharging their firearms to scare away the mountain lion so they could aid the older brother. When deputies got to the older brother, they realized he had already died.

CDFW said this is the first confirmed fatality from a mountain lion attack since 2004. That was in Whiting Ranch Regional Park in Orange County.

Attacks are on the increase; 12 attacks have been reported to CDFW in the past 20 years, none fatal. Nine attacks were reported in the 20 years prior to 2004, two fatal.

Most of California is suitable habitat for the mountain lion, and El Dorado County reported a mountain lion sighting — a mother and her young — on the Eld Dorado Trail about an hour away.

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In 2019, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Mountain Lion Foundation petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to list the Southern California and Central Coast mountain lion populations as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended in 2020 that listing may be warranted. The Fish and Game Commission voted to accept the department’s recommendation and advance these populations to candidacy. Protections are in place while state biologists are conducting a status review for the vote on formal listing.

Written comments or data related to the petition should be emailed to Esther.Burkett@wildlife.ca.gov. Put “Mountain Lion ESU” in the subject line.