FORT COLLINS – The man who survived a mountain lion attack by suffocating the animal with his bare hands will speak about his experience Thursday afternoon.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources will hold a news conference Thursday at 1 p.m. about the attack that happened on Feb. 4 at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space west of Fort Collins.
According to a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the runner described hearing something behind him while running on the West Ridge Trail. When he turned around, the mountain lion lunged at him, biting his face and wrist.
Upon further investigation including examination of the mountain lion, CPW confirmed the victim, whose name has not been released, suffocated the animal in order to survive. The runner was able to leave the trail and drive himself to a local hospital. The lion was taken to the CPW animal health lab for an autopsy and the Horsetooth Open Space area was closed for several days as a precaution. It has since reopened.
Mountain lion attacks on people are rare, with fewer than 20 deaths in North America in more than a century.
Since 1990, Colorado has received reports of 16 mountain lion attacks, and 3 deaths.
RELATED:
CPW shares wildlife encounter tips after mountain lion attack
