Mountain lion attacks man sitting in Colorado outdoor hot tub

Wildlife officials successful Colorado are looking for a upland lion that clawed a man's caput while he was sitting successful a basking tub pinch his woman astatine a rental location complete nan weekend.

The man was sitting successful an in-ground basking tub astir 8 p.m. Saturday erstwhile it happened, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said successful a property merchandise Monday. Four wildlife officers responded to nan segment successful a heavy wooded subdivision astir 5 miles westbound of Nathrop on Chalk Creek successful Chaffee County.

"The unfortunate had 4 superficial scratches connected apical of his caput and adjacent his correct ear," nan property merchandise reads. 

By nan clip officials arrived, nan man had cleaned nan wounds and declined immoderate aesculapian assistance. 

2 SKIERS KILLED IN LARGE LATE-WINTER AVALANCHES IN COLORADO

Wildlife officials successful Colorado are searching for a upland lion that clawed a man’s caput while he was seated successful a basking tub pinch his woman astatine a rental home. (U.S. National Park Service, via AP, File)

The unidentified unfortunate told officers he felt thing drawback his caput earlier he and his woman began screaming and splashing h2o connected nan animal. The victim’s woman grabbed a flashlight and shined it connected nan animal, which they past identified arsenic a upland lion

The animal retreated to nan apical of a elevation wherever it continued to watch nan couple. 

The mates was past capable to make it back wrong nan rental home, wherever they called nan spot owner, who happens to beryllium a CPW employee, who alerted officers. 

"The mates did nan correct point by making sound and sparkling a ray connected nan lion. Although this unfortunate had only insignificant injuries, we return this incident seriously. We person alerted neighbors and posted signs informing of lion activity. And we will proceed to way nan lion and lion activity," said Sean Shepherd, area wildlife head based successful Salida.

COLORADO DENTIST CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER ALLEGEDLY POISONING WIFE

Colorado Parks and Wildlife shared this flyer astir upland lion encounters aft a man was attacked sitting successful a basking tub astatine a rental home. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

State wildlife officers instantly began searching for nan large feline on a steep ridge adjacent a creek but could not find immoderate tracks successful nan stiff snow. However, they group a trap adjacent and will proceed to show upland lion activity adjacent Nathrop, a mountainous area known for its outdoor activities.

Saturday night’s brushwood was nan first reported upland lion onslaught connected a personification successful Colorado since February 2022. Wildlife officials opportunity astatine slightest 27 group person been injured successful upland lion attacks successful Colorado since 1990, 3 of them fatally.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.