GLEN HAVEN, CO – A woman hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado was killed Thursday in what officials say is the state’s first fatal mountain lion attack in more than a quarter century.
The victim was discovered along the remote Crosier Mountain trail on national forest land, approximately 7 miles northeast of Estes Park. Her identity has not been released.
Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman’s body. The pair threw rocks at the animal to scare it away so they could attempt to assist the victim. One of the hikers, a physician, checked for vital signs but found no pulse.
Wildlife officers responded to the scene and located two mountain lions in the area later that day. Both animals were fatally shot as a precautionary measure, according to Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
“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,” Van Hoose said.
The attack marks a tragic rarity in a state where mountain lion encounters are relatively common but fatal attacks remain extraordinarily rare.
Colorado’s previous fatal mountain lion attack occurred in 1999, when a 3-year-old child was killed. Two years prior to that, in 1997, a 10-year-old boy was killed and dragged away while hiking with his family in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The state is home to an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 mountain lions, according to wildlife officials.
Authorities did not release specific details about the victim’s injuries. The investigation into the circumstances of the attack is ongoing.
