Forest rangers in New York last week rescued a hiker who was worried he was being followed by a mountain lion.
According to New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officials, the 23-year-old hiker was on the Devil’s Path in Lexington, New York when he called 911 just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8.
The hiker reported that he thought he had seen a mountain lion and he was worried the animal might be following him.
A ranger along with state and local police hiked to the hiker’s location and escorted him out of the woods, arriving at the trailhead at 3 a.m.
DEC officials said there is currently no evidence of a reproducing, native mountain lion population in New York.
DEC officials said their wildlife experts believe the animal was likely a coyote based on the hiker’s description of the animal’s behavior.
