Woman killed in suspected mountain lion attack while hiking in northern Colorado

A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while hiking alone in the mountains south of Glen Haven, Colorado, on Thursday, marking the first fatal attack by a mountain lion in the state in more than 25 years, authorities said.

Mountain Lion Attack in Colorado

Wildlife officers located and fatally shot two mountain lions in the area following the attack, according to Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The attack occurred along a remote section of the Crosier Mountain trail, which is on a national forest, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park. Two hikers discovered the woman’s body shortly before noon and encountered a mountain lion nearby.

The hikers attempted to scare the animal away by throwing rocks, allowing them to reach the woman. One of the hikers, a physician, determined the woman had no pulse, Van Hoose said.

Details regarding the woman’s injuries and the official cause of death have not been released.

Authorities continued searching for additional mountain lions in the area, and Van Hoose stated that any further lions found may be killed depending on the circumstances.

Mountain lion sightings are common in the forested area, but documented attacks on humans are rare. The state’s last suspected fatal attack occurred in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. In 1997, a 10-year-old boy was killed and dragged away by a mountain lion while hiking with family in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Last year, in Northern California, two brothers were attacked by a mountain lion while hiking; one of the brothers died. More information on that incident can be found here.

Mountain lions, also known as cougars or catamounts, can weigh up to 130 pounds and grow to over six feet long. Their primary prey is deer.

Colorado is estimated to have between 3,800 and 4,400 mountain lions, which are classified as a big game species and are subject to hunting regulations.