Mountain Lion Attacks California Woman; 'Hero' Dog Hurt Saving Her

BIG BAR, CA — A northern California woman is calling her dog a "hero" after the dog helped fight off an attacking mountain lion.

Erin Wilson, 24, was at the Whites Bar Picnic Area in Big Bar on Monday when she and her Belgian Malinois encountered a mountain lion. The park is along the Trinity River, about 45 miles west of Redding.

"It swiped at me, scratching my left shoulder," she said in a GoFundMe post. "I yelled out for help from my dog Eva. She was only a few yards ahead of me and attacked the lion."

The dog and lion battled. But at just 55 pounds, the dog was outmatched. Wilson heard Eva let out a cry in pain.

"The cat had her by the left side of her head. For the next several minutes i tried everything i could to free her," Wilson said.

Wilson hit the lion with rocks, sticks and fists, she told The Sacramento Bee. She even tried to choke the lion with her arms and gouge its eyes. When the cat refused to let go, Wilson ran to her vehicle to grab a tire iron and flagged down a stranger for help.

"Together we beat at the cat while yelling until my dog was let go," she said.

Eva was badly wounded in the fight. They were about an hour from the veterinarian, and about halfway there, the dog began convulsing for several minutes at a time.

"I didn’t think she’d make it every time it started up," Wilson said.

But the Belgian Malinois held on and received urgent medical treatment. But she's still not out of the woods. Eva was heavily sedated Monday as the veterinarians monitor the pressure in her head and make sure it's reduced. She suffered two skull fractures, a punctured sinus cavity and severe swelling around her left eye, hindering her vision.

But the veterinarian was optimistic about her condition. The dog, who is 2½ years old, is otherwise healthy.

Wilson launched a GoFundMe account to help raise money to cover Eva's medical bills. The account, with a goal of $7,500, raised more than $14,000 by Wednesday morning.

Wilson said she'll be able to cover Eva's medical bills thanks to the generosity of others. Any additional money, she said, will go toward the dog's after-care — and some "very solid pampering," as well as Wilson's own medical bills, and charities.

A video posted to Instagram on Tuesday showed the wounded Malinois enjoying some well-deserved wet food. Eva could return home as soon as Wednesday afternoon.

Wilson called her dog a "hero," and said she owes Eva her life. They're already planning to lavish the dog with some new toys and maybe a steak dinner.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday it was investigating the possible mountain lion attack.

"Although DNA results are not yet in, initial evidence from the investigation is strong enough to allow wildlife officers to treat the investigation as a legitimate attack," the department said. "CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division is working with allied agency partners to trap the offending mountain lion."