Seems like a gross exaggeration. Sightings in N. California aren't uncommon, but attacks are rare and far more rare are fatalities. I've only had one encounter. Was hiking with our daughter when we glanced back after a short climb. Crossing the trail we were on was an unusual looking animal and it took me a moment to realize that it was a cougar carrying a large squirrel in its mouth. It headed up toward a bush and two cubs came bounding out to practice their hunting and have some lunch. We realized that just moments before we had been directly between the mama and her cubs - I'm sure we were being watched very closely.