Mountain Lion Attack in Cleveland National Forest
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:56 pm
Crazy story. Middle of the day, right near the campground, 2 adults and a dog, and the lion still attacks???
CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST – A man from Wildomar is crediting his dog Hoggie for saving his life.
William Morse, 41, was walking Tuesday on a trail at the Falcon Crest Campground off Ortega Highway when out of the corner of his eye he saw a mountain lion crouching near a restroom area about 40 feet ahead of him.
His Queensland Heeler/Labrador mix, who just turned 5, sprang between Morse and the mountain lion that was double his size.
The cat grabbed him by his underbelly and ripped him open.
Morse ran to his dog's side and pulled him to safety as the cat ran away. His wife Candy was a short distance away.
"He saved my life and my wife's life," Morse said crying. "If he hadn't been there, my wife and I would have been dead."
Morse drove to a nearby Cal Fire station and reported the attack. Then he raced to Clinton Keith Veterinary Hospital in Wildomar.
Hoggie has been in surgery for more than three hours and veterinarians are hopeful that the dog will survive.
The U.S. Forest Service has since closed the campground area around Blue Jay campground while authorities search for the mountain lion, said Brian Harris, public affairs officer with the Cleveland National Forest.
The campground is expected to be closed for at least a few days, Harris said.
Morse hopes other outdoor enthusiasts are aware of the dangers of hiking in the wilderness.
"I've been going out to Blue Jay for 21 years, and this is the first encounter I've ever had," he said.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/dog- ... department
CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST – A man from Wildomar is crediting his dog Hoggie for saving his life.
William Morse, 41, was walking Tuesday on a trail at the Falcon Crest Campground off Ortega Highway when out of the corner of his eye he saw a mountain lion crouching near a restroom area about 40 feet ahead of him.
His Queensland Heeler/Labrador mix, who just turned 5, sprang between Morse and the mountain lion that was double his size.
The cat grabbed him by his underbelly and ripped him open.
Morse ran to his dog's side and pulled him to safety as the cat ran away. His wife Candy was a short distance away.
"He saved my life and my wife's life," Morse said crying. "If he hadn't been there, my wife and I would have been dead."
Morse drove to a nearby Cal Fire station and reported the attack. Then he raced to Clinton Keith Veterinary Hospital in Wildomar.
Hoggie has been in surgery for more than three hours and veterinarians are hopeful that the dog will survive.
The U.S. Forest Service has since closed the campground area around Blue Jay campground while authorities search for the mountain lion, said Brian Harris, public affairs officer with the Cleveland National Forest.
The campground is expected to be closed for at least a few days, Harris said.
Morse hopes other outdoor enthusiasts are aware of the dangers of hiking in the wilderness.
"I've been going out to Blue Jay for 21 years, and this is the first encounter I've ever had," he said.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/dog- ... department
)