When Cougars Attack

California Wildlife officials say a wife saved her husband's life when she fought off a mountain lion that had just attacked him. The attack happened while they were hiking in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Nell Hamm (the wife) heard a plea for help from here husband and turned to see that a mountain lion had grabbed her husband by the head and had wrestled him to the ground.

Luckily she was eventually able to drive off the mountain lion after repeatedly hitting hit with a 4 inch thick stick and attempting to stab the mountain lion in the eye with a pen. It was finally a jab with the stick that made the mountain lion release his victim. But in doing so the lion and Nell Hamm were now in a staredown. Nell yelled and waved here arms to appear a big and mean as possible. Apparently it worked because the mountain lion then slowly ambled off.

After the attack game wardens closed the park and released hounds to track the mountain lion. Two mountain lions were later shot near where the attack on the trail had occured.

Both mountain lions were sent to a lab to determine if either had mauled the man (Jim Hamm).

Mountain lion attacks are rare but years ago they use to be unheard off. Attacks on humans have increased in recent years in some western states after the hunting of them was made illegal due to pressure from misguided groups such as PETA.