URGENT UPDATE: A woman has been found dead on a hiking trail in northern Colorado, marking a rare and tragic incident of a mountain lion attack. The horrifying event occurred around 12:15 p.m. on the Crosier Mountain Trail in Larimer County, where hikers discovered a mountain lion near the victim’s body.
Witnesses reported the attack, stating they drove off the mountain lion by throwing rocks, only to find the woman unresponsive. Authorities from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are leading the investigation and confirmed the victim had no pulse upon their arrival.
Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for CPW, emphasized the rarity of such attacks, noting that while there have been 28 recorded incidents since 1990, the last fatal attack was in 1999. The Larimer County coroner is expected to release the victim’s identity and cause of death shortly.
In response to the attack, officers at the scene shot at the mountain lion and later tracked down and euthanized the animal. Another mountain lion in the vicinity was also euthanized for public safety. Under CPW regulations, any wildlife involved in human attacks must be euthanized. The animals will be tested for human DNA to determine their involvement in the attack, as well as checked for any diseases such as rabies or avian influenza.
Colorado is home to an estimated 3,800 to 4,000 mountain lions, with populations increasing since they were classified as a big game species in 1965. These big cats primarily inhabit brushy areas and woodlands at lower elevations, preying mainly on deer and elk.
CPW advises the public on how to safely deal with mountain lion encounters: make noise, hold objects overhead to appear larger, and slowly back away. The community is left shaken by this incident, which highlights the potential dangers of wildlife encounters in outdoor spaces.
Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available on this tragic incident.
