Cougar attack survivors speak out

Keri Bergere, who was attacked and pinned down by her face, Annie Bilotta and Tisch Williams join ABC News Live to discuss the incident, and how a routine bike ride became the fight of their lives.
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[@rajmathew6220]

Hope she recovers as much as possible and then some. Such a sweet, strong woman and some incredible friends too.

[@paprgl]

I would have no idea what to do. I am glad they were prepared.

[@carrieannkouri2151]

Those are friends for life right there. Wishing her all the best for a complete recovery.

[@happyfunjenn]

Everyone needs a Ride or Die Crew like these ladies!

[@hkschubert9938]

Darwin will eventually catch up with them !!

[@jsmcguireIII]

Powerful women! In my work, I've been followed by mountain lions, and I carry bear spray, but having help probably saved her.

[@beautifulaspen6583]

What kind of work do you do? Have you ever needed to use the bear spray?

[@elizabethcarrington5819]

These are some awesome and brave women. Total badasses to not give up and keep fighting for their friend’s life. Well done! ❤

[@lissarodrigues8950]

What a brave women's! I hope you guys recover from all injuries emotional and physical ❤! God bless 🙏 you all!

[@susankelly5516]

All of you are AMAZING❤❤❤❤for all of us who hike, backpack & ride have these fears

[@jenniferhunter5663]

Thank goodness for your friends. I hope your recovery goes well and can get back to your riding soon. Such a traumatic experience to go thru. Sending love and prayers.

[@lauratyler4863]

These women are Bad Ass.

[@brendaleigh7834]

Wow! 45 minutes of attack!

[@lisadiconti]

I know...so scary.

[@VNOyovino]

If she wanted a tooth, they definitely should have given her one! What the heck!? Amazing survival and teamwork story from a powerful and resilient group of friends.

[@marzymarrz5172]

Friends like that, what a gift.

[@dianadelahaye7660]

How brave and wonderful!. Empowered women!

[@Mialuvsveggies]

I am an avid nature and animal lover but this was certainly a fight for life. These ladies have my utmost respect. Keri's optimism is so inspiring! Power to you 💖

[@MyHeart1955]

I’m sorry. Newslady, “And they DID save your life?” as if it’s a question sounded weird. Young people need to stop ending STATEMENTS as if it’s a question. Please stop doing that. Upticks, I think professionals call them. Stop ending a sentence sounding like a question. Of course they saved her life, she’s speaking to you.

[@GinaHarmeyer]

I hear this a lot, especially in "influencer" type videos. It can get really difficult to listen to when some will use the "uptick" several times in a sentence too!

[@katherineanderson3961]

Many prayers

[@WendyWahman]

Teary and inspired, this is one fierce and protective group of strong women. I ride as well and know the passion and am sending healing love for a full recovery, inside and out so you're back together riding for a long, long time.

[@godzillamanstreb524]

Wow!! SO incredibly inspiring….all of you♥️♥️♥️♥️…. I wouldn’t go back for anything 😂

[@meghill4537]

Talk about Ride or Die girlfriends! Congratulations and I hope your healing is helped by the memory of your A Team riding with you through it all.

[@susankelly5516]

You guys are a great tribe ❤

[@MrDXRamirez]

Wildlife officers euthanized the 75-pound cougar, which are also called mountain lions. The animal's body will be reviewed and tested for diseases, its age and body condition, wildlife officials said. A second cougar was also reported being seen in the area, officials said, but it was never found.

[@cynthiagreenhill5283]

her injury is already looking better than first interview that i saw. I won't be surprised once swelling goes down and more healing takes place that things will almost look normal

[@ArfArfBarkBark]

These are not experienced mountain bikers and their lack of wearing bells and loudly announcing their path in known wilderness is unbelievably selfish, and the cause of the cougar's death. Not only do I work with rehabilitating predatory dogs, I've hiked alone in the wilderness and have never had an encounter. This is ineptitude...they held the cougar down for almost one hour while waiting for park rangers. The rangers killed the cougar. The lack of these bikers' actual wilderness awareness and experience is beyond asinine.

[@bobette00]

yes I'm sure if they hadn't been so selfish and announced their presence to the cougar, it would have ignored them. Also, because you've never been attacked by a cougar, you must be much smarter than they are.

[@marzymarrz5172]

Oh really. Not everyone is as smart and brave and knows everything like you do,

[@ArfArfBarkBark]

@@marzymarrz5172 Thank you for confirming exactly what I wrote...ignorance of the wilderness is what happened. Arrogance of having no caution is why this was preventable. It's sad you fail to recognize the logic.

[@ArfArfBarkBark]

@@bobette00 Your comment is nonsensical and somewhat off kilter. Did they think they were going on a ride through a city park? Common sense. Clearly lacking.

[@Drewzker]

Was a 75 pound one year old male cougar which did this. Full grown they can get 200 pounds or better.

[@Pom88pom]

Wow brave ladies!!!😮😮😮❤❤❤❤

[@MD-wk3gj]

This is one of my biggest fears as I love hiking in the woods. I can’t watch past 35 seconds.

[@AndtherewasJoy13]

Always keep a mini-airhorn on your nature adventures. The loud noise will likely cause an animal like a cougar or wolf to release it's jaws. Happy to hear this survivor & friends made it it through.....

[@ChummySalmon]

In Ketchikan, AK, a jogger saw a black bear and blasted a mini airhorn. She was immediately charged by the bear.

[@MsLemon1971]

Keep on riding ladies! 💪

[@alarahillton1343]

I’m wondering what killed the cougar? Was it the hitting of its head with the rock by the one friend? Or, was it the animal control? One commenter said that this was about a 75 pound cougar/ vs full grown 200 pounds. I feel sorry for her/ very bad injuries. But I also feel sad that the young cougar was just trying to do what he does naturally, to eat prey. I don’t think it’s safe in many areas due to wild animals- but , people still go. Heck, in Ca we don’t have any land left in LA or OC, and they often get hit by cars 😢. I know where north bend is. Used to live in western Wa. That’s out there. North , and I’d think twice in cougar territory. Stay safe.

[@evelynwaugh4053]

People on bikes seem to get attacked more often than hikers do, probably because movement attracts the MLs, and they generally launch the attack from the side or back. The intent is to break the prey's neck or sever the spinal cord, rendering the prey helpless. I'm wondering if a different helmet design, one that has more coverage to protect the side of the face and back of the neck might be an advantage. Supposedly, forest workers and farmers in Asia where there are tigers paint eyes on the back of their headgear because cats prefer not to attack from the front and thus lose the element of surprise. Sorry for big kitty too. I doubt he should have been on his own that young.

[@Cletus_the_Elder]

Cougars are tenacious, from what I've seen. They are hardwired into clamping down and riding out the defensive attacks. If this woman was alone, it could have been a very sad story.

[@hkschubert9938]

Whenever you enter the wilderness you are re-entering the food chain. Poor kitty.

[@t.k3025]

Absolutely, the cat was trying to live its life, in its habitat.

[@FREEbird9471]

We need to STOP THINKING ALL LAND BELONGS TO HUMANS! LEAVE THEM ALONE AND STOP THINKING BIKING, AND HIKING, IS THE SAME AS THEIR LIVING A LIFE AND FINDING FOOD AND A MATE.

[@luischannel04]

You need to carry bear spray in the deep woods. The forest is full of wild animals period. She is glad her friends were with her that day.

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

Those things are sneaky. At least a bear will attack you face to face. Hope she has a speedy recovery.

[@susankelly5516]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@FurthermoreJack]

What you could try is lift the Cougar by the tail ... The reason guard dogs have cropped tail

[@FurthermoreJack]

Doesn't work on lions or tigers those you have to find the gag reflex

[@dancollins6171]

Brave, heroic women! Do you suppose they carry bear spray or a gun when they ride in the woods now?

[@elr.4780]

None of them were packing? I know some good ole boys down south who jog, they do pack when they go jogging.

[@CalvinMorris-cf8jk]

is he out on bail yet.

[@Heavilymoderated]

Pretty crazy that it wouldn’t let go once they were beating it. Always stay armed in the woods. Reasons.

[@Christynmaine]

I’m thinking desperation d/t starvation. At 75 pounds he was underweight, maybe emaciated or young and inexperienced. The mother could have been killed leaving him alone.

[@-aimee-]

These tough cyclists !!!!!! 🙌🏻

[@mariabaumgartel766]

So sad, Encroachment

[@stacyshepherd4705]

These people

[@tarawhite4419]

Bad cat

[@ValiantPixel]

I was also attacked by a cougar once. It was really scary because she was about to hit menopause. (Just a little joke. I’m sorry about what this woman went through of course.)

[@annfarnell1642]

Jasonm and Valiant: Grow up!

[@jasonm5797]

Took 40 minutes because they realized they aren't men...😂😂😂😂

[@weary1]

Very funny…and when are you graduating from kindergarten?

[@bluecube7247]

Did your comment puff you up to feel like a big brave boy or a tough guy?

[@evelynwaugh4053]

You do realize that most wild animal fatalities are men, right? Even a 200 pound man is weak compared to a bear or mountain lion. Unless someone is armed and has some advance warning of the attack so he can get his weapon, the animal has the advantage in strength, weight, and agility. Plus the teeth and claws. Even when hunters get off a few rounds, they still get mauled pretty bad because beings don't die instantly. If you doubt this, watch some episodes of Scary Bear Attacks on YT.

[@shari9721]

The fact that you felt the need to insult them shows exactly how weak you are as a so called "man" and what a pathetic person you are . smdh

[@ggcatbelladogantics2959]

You are such a waste.

[@QWNSWORDS]

This is why we carry guns