Another close-in cougar incident

Bicyclist, 13, reports he saw mountain lion on road

A teenager riding his bike said he came across a mountain lion on Sandmann Road off Parkway Drive on Thursday evening — the second reported human-cougar encounter near Crescent City in two weeks.

13-year-old Richie England was riding his bike around 8 p.m. when a mountain lion stepped out of a wooded area onto the road about 40 yards ahead, walking away from him, said Rich England Sr., Richie’s father, who was on his bike about 60 yards behind his son. England’s wife and daughter were walking behind him.

“I heard him yelling and screaming,” said England, a counselor for Crescent Elk Middle School. “He’s standing there on his bike with his hands in the air.”

England recalled his son yelled back toward him, “Dad, there’s a mountain lion. It’s right there.”

His son estimated the animal was 7 feet long, England said.

Richie England said Friday night he wasn’t too worried about an attack, but the animal had his attention.

“It scared me, but I know that there’s not very many attacks,” said Richie, a Redwood Elementary School student.