Two brothers who had been lifelong outdoorsmen had been recognized Monday because the victims mauled by a mountain lion in Northern California this weekend in what seems to be the primary deadly cougar assault within the Golden State in 20 years.
Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21, died within the assault, and his brother, 18-year-old Wyatt Jay Charles Brooks, was severely wounded however is predicted to outlive, in line with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Workplace.
The Brooks brothers, each of Mount Aukum in southern El Dorado County, grew up collectively looking and fishing often within the scenic area recognized to many as Northern California’s Gold Nation, in line with a press release from the Brooks household, shared by the sheriff’s workplace.
“These two younger males being as shut as any two brothers could possibly be, lived a full energetic life having fun with the outside,” the assertion mentioned. “We’re all devastated by the tragic lack of Taylen but grateful Wyatt remains to be with us and are effectively conscious the end result might have been even worse.”
Deputies responded to a name Saturday from Wyatt Brooks that he and his brother had been attacked by a mountain lion in a distant space of Georgetown, in northern El Dorado County, the place they’d been combing a forested space for deer antlers, officers mentioned.
Wyatt Brooks suffered “traumatic accidents” to his face and was separated from his brother throughout the assault, in line with a information launch from the sheriff’s workplace. Emergency responders first situated and commenced treating Wyatt Brooks, earlier than discovering the mountain lion crouched subsequent to his slain brother. Officers shot towards the animal, scaring it off.
Officers with the Division of Fish and Wildlife and an El Dorado County trapper later shot and killed the mountain lion, which remained inside “shut proximity” of the place the assault occurred, mentioned Sgt. Kyle Parker, with the sheriff’s workplace. The physique of the animal was taken in for examination to “determine why the assault occurred,” Parker mentioned.
Taylen Brooks labored along with his father portray homes and chopping firewood.
“He actually loved fishing and was a particularly proficient guitar participant,” the household mentioned within the assertion. “He was a really form and mild soul and will probably be deeply missed by all who knew him.”
Plans for a memorial haven’t but been finalized, the household mentioned Monday.
Wyatt Brooks, who was coaching to develop into a firefighter, underwent a number of surgical procedures for his accidents and is predicted to make a full restoration, officers mentioned.
The Brooks household has arrange an on-line fundraiser in reminiscence of Taylen Brooks and to assist Wyatt Brooks.
The state’s final recognized lethal assault by a mountain lion was in 2004, when a puma in Orange County killed 35-year-old bicycle owner Mark Reynolds. Earlier than that, one other assault occurred in El Dorado County in 1994, when Barbara Schoener, a jogger, was killed on a path within the Sierra foothills.
Deadly assaults by the animal stay very uncommon, however wildlife officers say encounters between people and mountain lions are anticipated to extend because the cats’ habitat shrinks and human growth continues to unfold into wilderness areas.
