A Harrowing Encounter with a Mountain Lion
On March 23, 2024, while strolling along a forest service road just outside Georgetown, California, my nephews, Taylen and Wyatt Brooks, experienced a terrifying encounter with a mountain lion.
Listen to this article, read by Malcolm Hillgartner
Taylen, 21, and Wyatt, 18, have spent their lives immersed in nature, growing up in the rural landscapes of El Dorado County’s Sierra foothills. Their childhood was filled with adventures, hunting deer, turkeys, quail, and ducks, alongside fishing for bass and trout. On that fateful afternoon, they ventured out with a singular goal: to search for shed deer antlers, an annual springtime tradition that had accumulated a remarkable collection of prongs and tines in their bedroom, garage, and shed, each piece meticulously labeled with the date and location of its discovery.
It was Wyatt who first noticed the movement, catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. He was walking on the uphill side of the road, having barely ventured five minutes from the car, his gaze scanning the slope for the distinctive shape of a fallen antler. When he turned his head to take in the surroundings, a young male lion appeared, no more than 10 yards away, approaching almost casually.
Taylen, who was positioned just behind his brother and slightly off to the side, was still oblivious to the lion’s presence as he focused on the lower slope. Wyatt urgently called out his brother’s name, prompting both boys to instinctively follow the established protocol for lion encounters: they raised their arms above their heads to appear larger while shouting and yelling, slowly backing away from the advancing predator.
Despite their efforts, the lion continued its approach, its eyes fixed on them as it closed the distance with alarming speed. When the gap shrank to mere feet, Wyatt, in a desperate attempt to deter the beast, threw his backpack at the lion, grazing its face. However, the lion showed no signs of hesitation or reaction, its focus unwavering.
