I know this is an old thread but my daughter was a friend of the female mt. biker that was attacked by the cougar that supposedly killed and ate the other mt biker. After the investigation was over, they now believe that the deceased biker possibly had a heart attack and was dead before being eaten. The lion was a young one and they believe was startled while eating the first victim. They believe that the lion was defending his "food". I have lived in the southern California mountains for almost 30 years and have hunted and fished there and all over the western U.S. and canada for even longer. Like Dryer, I have yet to see a mt.lion. I have seen their tracks and used to have hounds when I was a teenager and hunted with guys that had taken lions. The lion that attacked the mt biker was beaten off by the female friend of the victim. The lesson is "will to survive". Never ever give up!