urbpan | Cougar attack lawsuit follow-up

Parents Of Cyclist Killed By Cougar Drop Lawsuit
Bikers Say They Are Aware Of Mountain Lion Risks

SAN DIEGO -- The parents of a mountain biker killed by a cougar on a popular bike trail will drop a wrongful-death suit against Orange County, it was reported Tuesday.

Dona and Gary Reynolds of St. Joseph, Mo., filed the lawsuit March 16. They claimed the county should have known that mountain lions were in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park and that it was dangerous to let the public hike and bike there.

Their son, Mark Reynolds, 35, of Foothill Ranch, was mauled by a mountain lion while fixing his bicycle along Cactus Ridge Trail on Jan. 8, 2004.

The Reynolds decide to drop the lawsuit at the urging of mountain biking enthusiasts. Dozens of people posted messages explaining that mountain bikers understand the risks of riding in wilderness parks, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Grant Curtis, former president of the SHARE Mountain Bike Club, which maintains the riding trails in Orange County, told the Times that the family's "lawsuit was well-intentioned, just not completely informed."

The mountain lion that killed Reynolds attacked another mountain biker later the same day. The lion pulled Anne Hjelle, 30, from her bike and was dragging her into the brush by her head when her cycling partner rode up. Hjelle was rescued when her partner grabbed her legs and other bikers scared the lion off by throwing rocks.

Sheriff's deputies later shot the 110-pound mountain lion responsible for the attacks.