Cyclists Attacked by Cougar on Tokul Creek Trail in Washington State

One of the cyclists received either claw or bite injuries from the cougar during this incident and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The other four members of the group managed to pin down and hold off the animal until Fish and Wildlife officers arrived on scene, who then removed one subadult cougar at arrival.
On Saturday, February 18th, a group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar while riding on the Tokul Creek trail in Washington State.
WDFW Police enlisted a houndsman in an attempt to find any additional cougars involved but were unable to locate them. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m., with the cyclists reporting that they had been stalked and attacked by the animal.
Cyclists Attacked by Cougar on Tokul Creek Trail in Washington State

On Saturday, February 18th, a group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar while riding on the Tokul Creek trail in Washington State. One of the cyclists received either claw or bite injuries from the cougar during this incident and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The other four members of the group managed to pin down and hold off the animal until Fish and Wildlife officers arrived on scene, who then removed one subadult cougar at arrival. WDFW Police enlisted a houndsman in an attempt to find any additional cougars involved but were unable to locate them. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m., with the cyclists reporting that they had been stalked and attacked by the animal.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if this was an isolated incident or if there have been other attacks on cyclists in the area.
  • The article does not provide any information about the cougar's behavior before it attacked the cyclists.

Sources

76%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Cougar attacks mountain bikers on Washington trail

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Paradise Afshar, Sunday, 18 February 2024 21:46
  • Unique Points
    • At least one cougar stalked and attacked a group of five mountain bikers on a trail in Washington Saturday.
    • One cyclist received either claw or bite injuries from the cougar during this incident. The injured woman was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (30%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that multiple cougars attacked the mountain bikers when only one was involved and another fled. Secondly, the sentence 'One biker (reportedly a 60-year-old female) received either claw or bite injuries from one of the cats during this incident' is misleading as it suggests all five cyclists were injured by cougars when in fact only one was hurt. Lastly, the article states that an officer shot the cougar with a firearm which contradicts Washington State Fish and Wildlife policy to not lethally remove animals unless they pose a threat to human safety.
    • The article states that an officer shot the cougar with a firearm which contradicts Washington State Fish and Wildlife policy to not lethally remove animals unless they pose a threat to human safety.
    • The sentence 'One biker (reportedly a 60-year-old female) received either claw or bite injuries from one of the cats during this incident' is misleading as it suggests all five cyclists were injured by cougars when in fact only one was hurt.
    • The title implies multiple cougars attacked when only one was involved
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare in Washington state. This statement is not supported by any evidence and should be taken with a grain of salt.
    • > One biker (reportedly a 60-year-old female) received either claw or bite injuries from one of the cats during this incident.<br>This example demonstrates an appeal to authority as it states that cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare in Washington state.
    • The public's safety is our priority, generally during a human-wildlife incident we lethally remove the animal involved.<br>This example demonstrates an appeal to emotion as it emphasizes the importance of protecting people from harm.
  • Bias (75%)
    The article contains a statement that cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. This is an example of religious bias as the author implies that it is not common for people to be attacked by cougars.
    • . In Washington state, there have been two fatal cougar attacks and approximately 20 other recorded encounters that resulted in human injury in the last 100 years.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    53%

    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

    Cougar attacks 5 mountain bikers near Snoqualmie, 1 hospitalized

    KTVU Fox2 & KICU Plus News Station FOX 13 Monday, 19 February 2024 05:21
    • Unique Points
      • At least one cougar stalked and attacked a group of five mountain bikers on a trail in Washington Saturday.
      • One cyclist received either claw or bite injuries from the cougar during this incident. The injured woman was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
    • Accuracy
      • Cougar attacks 5 cyclists near Snoqualmie
      • woman hospitalized from the attack
      • rest of the cyclists pinned down the coupler with a bike until Fish and Wildlife agents arrived on scene
      • coupler euthanized at the scene
      • <br>At least one cougar stalked and attacked a group of five mountain bikers on a trail in Washington Saturday.
      • <br>One cyclist received either claw or bite injuries from the cougar during this incident. The injured woman was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
    • Deception (0%)
      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title mentions a cougar attack on five cyclists but only one person was actually attacked by the cougar. Secondly, the body of the article states that there were reports of a second cougar involved but WDFW Police and a houndsman were unable to locate another cougar in the area which contradicts itself as it says 'reports' indicating multiple sources. Thirdly, when describing how long it took for Fish and Wildlife agents to arrive on scene they say 'around 12:45 p.m.' but this is not a specific time and could be interpreted as an approximate time.
      • The title mentions a cougar attack on five cyclists but only one person was actually attacked by the cougar.
    • Fallacies (85%)
      The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) received a report about the incident. This implies that WDFW is an authoritative source on cougar attacks, which may not be entirely accurate or reliable.
      • The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by stating that the woman was hospitalized from the attack and treated for her injuries. While this statement accurately conveys the severity of the incident, it does so in a way that is intended to elicit an emotional response rather than provide objective information.
    • Bias (0%)
      The article is biased towards the victim of the cougar attack. The author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes the cougar by describing it as a 'vicious predator' and saying that it was euthanized at the scene.
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          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          70%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          5 cyclists attacked by cougar in King County

          KIRO 7 News KIRO 7 Sunday, 18 February 2024 17:03
          • Unique Points
            • A group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar in King County around 1 p.m. on Saturday.
            • Five cyclists were attacked and a woman is in the hospital for her injuries.
            • The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife removed a cougar at the scene and sent a hound handler to find possible second cougar involved.
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (50%)
            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that all five cyclists were attacked by a cougar when only one was actually injured. Secondly, the body of the article states that officers got reports of injuries on a trail northeast of Falls City but does not specify how many people were injured or if any other animals were involved in these incidents. Thirdly, Sgt. Pace's statement about couger attacks being rare in our area is misleading as there have been multiple reported cases of cougar attacks in the past few years.
            • The title implies that all five cyclists were attacked by a cougar when only one was actually injured.
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (10%)
            The article is biased towards the safety of humans and their ability to fight off cougar attacks. The author uses language that dehumanizes the cougar by describing it as a 'lethal' animal that poses a threat to human life.
            • > A group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar in King County around 1 p.m. on Saturday.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            83%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            WDFW statement on cougar incident in King County

            wdfw.wa.gov Monday, 19 February 2024 05:24
            • Unique Points
              • A group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar and an adult female was hospitalized to be treated for her injuries.
              • Fish and Wildlife officers removed one subadult cougar on arrival at the scene. Eyewitness accounts indicated there may be a second cougar.
            • Accuracy
              • A group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar and an adult female was hospitalized to be treated for her injuries. She is in stable condition.
              • Coupler euthanized at the scene
              • woman hospitalized from the attack
              • <br>Just before 1 p.m., officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) responded to a report of the attack on a trail northeast of Fall City, Washington.
            • Deception (50%)
              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author does not disclose any sources or provide evidence to support their claims. Secondly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'human-cougar incident with documented injuries' and 'attacked by a cougar', which could be interpreted as implying that humans were attacked by cougars when in fact it was only one person who sustained minor injuries. Thirdly, the article does not provide any information on how the subadult cougar was removed from the scene or if there is any evidence to support eyewitness accounts of a second cougar. Lastly, the author uses an exclamation mark at 'For more information on Washington cougars visit WDFW’s website' which could be interpreted as trying to manipulate readers into clicking on their website.
              • There is no information provided on how the subadult cougar was removed from the scene or if there is any evidence to support eyewitness accounts of a second cougar.
              • The article does not disclose any sources or provide evidence to support the claims made by the author.
              • The author uses an exclamation mark at 'For more information on Washington cougars visit WDFW’s website' which could be interpreted as trying to manipulate readers into clicking on their website.
              • The language used in the article is sensationalistic and could be misleading, such as 'human-cougar incident with documented injuries' and 'attacked by a cougar'.
            • Fallacies (85%)
              The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officers removed one subadult cougar on arrival at the scene. This implies that WDFW is a reliable source for information about cougars, but it does not provide any evidence or data to support this claim.
              • ]Photos Click to display full size or right-click to save to your device.
            • Bias (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            63%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            5 cyclists attacked by cougar on Washington trail

            KOIN News Team - Portland CBS Affiliate Jenna Deml Sunday, 18 February 2024 21:21
            • Unique Points
              • A group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar on a bike trail Saturday afternoon in King County, Washington.
              • One cyclist received either claw or bite injuries from the cougar during this incident. The injured woman was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
            • Accuracy
              No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
            • Deception (30%)
              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that all five cyclists were attacked by a cougar when only one was actually injured. Secondly, the author states that witnesses reported there may have been a second cougar in the area despite no evidence being provided to support this claim. Lastly, the article quotes Sgt. Carlo Pace stating that couger attacks on humans are extremely rare and then proceeds to provide statistics of 20 other encounters where humans were injured which contradicts his statement.
              • Sgt. Carlo Pace stated that couger attacks on humans are extremely rare and then proceeds to provide statistics of 20 other encounters where humans were injured which contradicts his statement.
              • The author states that witnesses reported there may have been a second cougar in the area despite no evidence being provided to support this claim.
              • The title implies that all five cyclists were attacked by a cougar when only one was actually injured.
            • Fallacies (70%)
              The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. This is not true as there have been more than two fatal cougar attacks and 20 other encounters where humans have been injured in Washington state.
              • ]According to WDFW, cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. They say in the last 100 years, there have been two fatal cougar attacks and 20 other encounters where humans have been injured in Washington state.
            • Bias (75%)
              The article contains a statement that cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. This is an example of ideological bias as the author presents this information without providing any evidence to support it.
              • . . . in the last 100 years, there have been two fatal cougar attacks and 20 other encounters where humans have been injured in Washington state.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                Jenna Deml has a conflict of interest on the topic of cougar attacks as she is reporting for KOIN which is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Sinclair has been criticized in the past for its conservative political bias and close ties to Republican politicians.
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  The author Jenna Deml has a conflict of interest on the topics of cyclists and cougar attacks. The article mentions that the attack occurred in Fall City, Washington which is where KOIN News is based.