Man Survives Mountain Lion Attack in California

(NEVADA COUNTY, Calif.) -- A mountain lion mauled a man inside his sleeping bag early Sunday morning, according to the California Department of Fish and Game.

The 63-year-old victim survived, and he was treated for non-life-threatening puncture wounds to his hand, back, and scalp after he drove himself to a nearby hospital, the department said.

The man – whom officials have not named -- was asleep in his sleeping bag near the Yuba River in Nevada County when he woke up to "pressure on his head" at about 1 a.m., department spokesperson Patrick Foy told KXTV, ABC's affiliate in Sacramento.

This is the fifteenth mountain lion attack on a human in the state since 1890, according to department records. Of those, six have been fatal.

"Clearly this is a very, very rare occurrence," Foy said. "You're more likely to be attacked by certainly a domestic dog or to be struck by lightning than you are to be attacked by a mountain lion."

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