A woman was killed Thursday (Jan. 1) in a suspected mountain lion attack while hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado, in what would be the first fatal attack by the predator in more than 25 years, the Associated Press reported, citing authorities.
The attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park, an area considered the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park’s eastern entrance, according to officials. AP reported.
The woman was found on a remote section of the Crosier Mountain Trail, which is located in the national forest.
Hikers encounter a mountain lion near the victim
Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman’s body and threw rocks at the animal to scare it so they could try to help, said Kara Van Hoose of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
“One of the hikers was a doctor attending to the victim and he couldn’t find a pulse,” Van Hoose said.
Details of the woman’s injuries and the official cause of death were not immediately released.
Officers shot and killed two mountain lions
Officers later found two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, Van Hoose said.
The search for more mountain lions in the area is still ongoing, she said, adding that “circumstances will determine whether any additional lions found will be killed.
An area famous for lion sightings
Authorities said mountain lion sightings are common in the wooded area where the suspected attack occurred, although no recent attacks on humans have been documented there.
“This is a very common time of year for lion sightings and reports, especially in Larimer County where it’s very good lion habitat,” Van Hoose said.
“The trails in this area are in pretty remote country – it’s wooded, it’s rocky, there’s ups and downs.
Rare but deadly encounters
Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare in Colorado. The state’s last suspected fatal attack occurred in 1999, when a 3-year-old child was killed. Two years earlier, a 10-year-old boy was killed and dragged off by a mountain lion while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park, the news outlet reported.
Last year in Northern California, two brothers were chased and attacked by a mountain lion; one of them was killed, authorities said.
About mountain lions in Colorado
Mountain lions — also known as cougars or catamounts — can weigh up to 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to lengths of more than 1.8 meters. They mainly hunt deer.
Colorado is home to an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 mountain lions. The animals are classified as big game in the state and can be legally hunted.
