Travis Kauffman, the man attacked by a mountain lion during a run in Colorado on February 4th explained how he suffocated the young cat — and survived with minimal injuries. The incident took place on at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space in Larimer County.
Kauffman, originally from Arkansas, said in an interview released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife that he wanted to “go on a pretty long scenic run,” and headed out around noon.
At some point during his jog, he “heard some pine needles rustle behind” him. Kauffman said he turned his head — something he doesn’t typically do, as he’d expect the rustling to be a rabbit or deer — and that’s when he said he felt his “heart sink.”
Kauffman saw the mountain lion roughly 10 feet away. He threw his hands up in the air and began yelling. The mountain lion kept approaching, and eventually, lunged at him.
The cat latched its jaw onto Kauffman’s right wrist, the runner said. Kauffman tried to protect his face as the mountain lion clawed at him.
Throughout the attack, Kauffman said he was doing his “barbarian yell as best I could,” and tried throwing the cat off him — which led to them both tumbling down a slope.
“From there it was just like a wrestling match — it was thrashing, and it still had my wrist locked in its jaws,” Kauffman said. He added that he pinned down the cat’s back legs using his left knee.
He tried to throw sticks at the lion, but they were rotten and breaking. He eventually picked up a large rock and tried to hit the cat in the head with it. Kauffman said he was able to transition his body weight, moving his right leg up toward his wrist, and eventually was able to step on the cat’s neck — suffocating it.
After the incident, Kauffman said he was on a “crazy high” and began to run toward civilization. As he ran, he said he noticed lion tracks and realized his surroundings were “perfect lion territory.”
A Good Samaritan transported Kauffman to the hospital, where he realized his face “was just kind of a bloody mess.” He received 19 stitches along his left cheek, another six stitches on the bridge of his nose and three stitches on his wrist. Kauffman said he has several puncture wounds from the cat’s teeth and claws, but otherwise feels “great.”
“It’s one of those weird sensational stories. It’s super rare. I feel like I should go and buy a bunch of lottery tickets,” Kauffman joked.
Wildlife officials said Kauffman did everything right when he encountered the animal. Kauffman noted that if he were wearing headphones while he was running, he wouldn’t have heard the mountain lion’s rustling, and might not have turned in time.
Kauffman suggested that runners go with a friend if possible and said to always “be aware that you are sharing that space with wildlife.”
“I was just thankful that he had his eyes and his fingers and all his parts, and it didn’t look as bad as I maybe would have thought that it could,” said his girlfriend, Annie Bierbower.
“Travis is a pretty amazing young man,” said Ty Petersburg, a wildlife manager for the agency. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers retrieved the dead cat. They said their investigation and a necropsy confirmed Kauffman’s account.
Kauffman, who described himself as an avid runner and skier, doesn’t plan to retreat from the outdoors.
“I will go run those trails again,” he said, but added, “I will go with a buddy there.”
Colorado Parks & Wildlife recommends what to do if you encounter a mountain lion:
- Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly and firmly to it. Move slowly and never turn your back on it.
- Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely. Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you’re wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won’t panic and run.
- If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. What you want to do is convince the lion you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger to the lion.
- Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools and their bare hands successfully. We recommend targeting the eyes and nose as these are sensitive areas. Remain standing or try to get back up!
Respecting wildlife includes being informed on how to avoid or manage wildlife encounters. To learn more about living with wildlife in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us.