See Mountain Lion Attacks On People in the U.S. and Canada for an introduction to this page, bibliography and abbreviation list. This page lists events that were initially reported to be mountain lion attacks, but which turned out not to involve lions, or for which there is no evidence proving a lion attack occurred.
1999 2 October. Jaryd Atadero, a 3-year-old boy, disappeared while hiking about 1 1/2 miles up the Big South Trail in Poudre Canyon, with his 6-year-old sister and 11 adults. Poudre Canyon is located in the Comanche Peaks Wilderness Area northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. Jaryd's body has not been found, despite the efforts of 60 searchers including two helicopters.
Although the initial speculation was that a mountain lion was responsible, as of 3/21/00 there is no evidence that a mountain lion was involved. Jaryd's Father, Allyn Atadero, reports that four theories are being investigated:
(Denver Post 10/5/99, A1; 10/6/99, B6; 10/8/99, B1; 10/10/99, B5; Allyn Atadero email of 3/21/00.)
- Jaryd drowned in the river.
- Jaryd fell and his body was never found.
- Jaryd was the victim of a mountain lion.
- Jaryd was abducted.
? October. Dennis Dorsey, 49, of Walnut Creek, was missing for almost a month after he failed to return from a 10-day hiking and fishing trip to Midas, Elk County, Nevada. When his skull and torn, bloody clothing were found, it was reported that it "all but confirms he was killed by a mountain lion".
Within a week, however, the story changed to the following. He "probably fell from the Owyhee Bluffs" and "coyotes scavenged the body after the man fell from a cliff and died".
(SDUT 11/10/99, A3; 11/11/99, A3; 11/20/99 A3)
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Copyright © 1999-2000 by Tom Chester and Linda Lewis.
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Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | Linda Lewis
Updated 5 April 2000.