Two brothers who were antler-shed hunting in Georgetown, Calif. were attacked by a mountain lion on Saturday, leaving one of the brothers dead.
A report of a mountain lion attack came in around 1:15 p.m. local time, from an 18-year-old who told the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office that he had become separated from his 21-year-old brother during the chaos.
The 18-year-old reportedly suffered “traumatic injuries” to his face and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment after deputies located him, according to the sheriff’s office.
At around 1:46 p.m. local time, deputies found the body of the 21-year-old brother and the mountain lion crouching by his side. After firing their guns to scare off the animal, they approached the victim and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Police have not yet identified either of the victims involved in the incident.
The brothers were reportedly antler-shed hunting in the region, a practice that involves searching for antlers that deer and elk have naturally shed, typically in early spring.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife are now currently working to locate the mountain lion.
Georgetown is a small town with a population of only about 3,000 people, located roughly 40 miles northeast of Sacramento.
