How the trail runner attacked by a mountain lion in Larimer County killed the animal

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers confirmed through a necropsy that a jogger on Horsetooth Mountain in Larimer County survived a rare attack by a young mountain lion by suffocating the animal to death. “After additional investigation, including examination of the lion, we have confirmed the victim’s account that he was able to suffocate the animal while defending himself from attack,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials tweeted Tuesday morning. Although the runner was bitten and injured after the mountain lion attacked him Monday from behind, he fought for his life and was able to kill the animal. Yet questions still remain. It’s unclear whether the runner — who has not yet been identified publicly — strangled or smothered the mountain lion. He had no weapons, so he killed the cat with his bare, bleeding hands after climbing on top of the animal, state wildlife officials said. “It’s an amazing story. Everyone is baffled and impressed,” said Rebecca Ferrell, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “He had no weapons, no knives or trekking poles with him. How did he do it? It’s pretty rare. That is definitely a twist on this, I’m sure.” The victim was running on West Ridge Trail when he heard something behind him, Ferrell said. As he turned, he saw the mountain lion pounce for his head and neck, she said. The mountain lion bit him on the face and wrist. The victim managed to partially block the attack with his forearms, Ferrell said. He managed to fight and break free from the mountain lion. Once he fended the mountain lion off, he counter-attacked the cat by getting on top of it, she said. There are still a few mysteries, though, including exactly how he suffocated the animal. Wildlife officers will go to the hospital Tuesday and ask him many questions about how he survived and then killed the mountain lion, Ferrell said. Wildlife officers also searched the trail where the runner told them his fight with the mountain lion took place, a Parks and Wildlife news release says. They found the dead mountain lion within feet of possessions the victim asked the officers to look for, it says. Although preliminary information from the necropsy confirms the jogger’s story about the cause of death, detailed information about the mountain lion’s injuries have not been released and could take several days before they are made public...MORE

On Monday evening, the victim was treated for serious injuries including facial bite wounds and lacerations to his arms, legs and back.

...detailed information about the mountain lion’s injuries have not been released and could take several days before they are made public. 

Apparently it is OK to release detailed information about the human's injuries, but details about the lion's injuries are being held close by officials? A dead cat has more of a right to privacy than the human victim?

Wildlife officers will go to the hospital Tuesday and ask him many questions about how he survived and then killed the mountain lion, Ferrell said.

They are not just asking him to describe what occurred, but instead will ask "many questions."

This suggests to me this is still an active investigation, and could explain why details of the animals injuries have not been disclosed, and won't be until the human has answered "many questions."

In other words, the human is being treated as a suspect in a murder case.