In this episode of The Crux, we delve into the harrowing story of 30-year-old Hjelle, who faced a life-threatening encounter with a mountain lion on January 8, 2004. Tune in as we explore the chilling details of the attack that unfolded while Hjelle was bike-riding in the serene Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Orange County, California.

We recount the traumatic incident as the lion, unprovoked, seized Hjelle by her shoulders, dragging her by the back of her neck. The tension escalated when Hjelle's friend, Debi Nichols, bravely intervened, initiating a desperate tug-of-war with the ferocious feline. The drama unfolded as fellow riders joined forces, pelting rocks at the lion to force it to release its grip on Hjelle.

Join us as we unravel the courage, quick thinking, and resilience displayed by these individuals in the face of a cougar's relentless power.

This episode is a riveting exploration of the human spirit's ability to confront the unexpected and emerge stronger from the most terrifying ordeals.

And, to clear up any confusion here are some stats

Mountain Lion attacks in the US: In the past 100 years there have been 126 attacks, 27 of which were fatal.

Bear attacks (in comparison) 180 fatal bear attacks in the US since 1784. There are about 11 bear attacks in the US per year, with roughly half of them being fatal.

All that to say, cougar attacks are rare!

References:

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=127825&page=1

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/04/saw-big-set-of-white-teeth-coming-towards-me-people-who-survived-wild-animal-attacks

https://www.orangecountyoutdoors.com/wildlife/land-mammals/mountain-lion