At a Glance
- Woman killed in suspected mountain lion attack while hiking alone in northern Colorado.
- First fatal attack in the state in over 25 years.
- Wildlife officers later shot two mountain lions in the area.
- Why it matters: The incident underscores the need for hikers to be aware of cougar presence in popular trails.
By Brianna Q. Lockwood for News Of Austin
A woman was killed Thursday in a suspected mountain lion attack while hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado. The incident marks the first fatal attack by a cougar in the state in more than 25 years.
Attack Details
The attack occurred south of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park, on the Crosier Mountain trail in a national forest. Shortly before noon, two hikers found a lion near the woman’s body and threw rocks to scare it away while a physician tried to revive her but did not find a pulse. Details on the injuries and cause of death were not released.
Kara Van Hoose stated:
> “This is a very common time of year to take mountain lion sightings and reports and especially in Larimer County, where this is very good mountain lion habitat. Trails in this area are in pretty remote land, so it’s wooded, it’s rocky, there’s elevation gains and dips.”
Response and Context
Wildlife officers later located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot them. They are continuing the search for additional lions, and whether any found will be killed depends on the circumstances.
Sightings of cougars are common in the forested area, but attacks on humans have been rare. The last suspected fatal attack in Colorado was in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. In 1997 a 10-year-old boy was also killed in Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Estimated cougar population: 3,800-4,400 in Colorado.
- Typical weight: 130 pounds.
- Typical length: over 6 feet.
- Primary diet: deer.
Key Takeaways
- The fatal attack is the first in Colorado in more than a quarter-century.
- Wildlife officers shot two lions after the incident.
- Cougars are common but attacks remain rare, with only a handful of fatalities in recent decades.
The event serves as a reminder for hikers to stay vigilant in areas where cougars roam.
