Woman Killed in Suspected Mountain Lion Attack in the U.S.
Tragic Incident in Colorado
A hiker is suspected to have been killed by at least one mountain lion in Colorado, USA, on Wednesday, according to wildlife authorities. If confirmed, this would mark the first fatality from such an attack in the area since 1999.
A group of hikers discovered the woman's body on an isolated trail and spotted a lion nearby. After managing to scare off the animal, they checked the body and could not find a pulse, stated Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose. It remains unclear whether one or more animals were involved in the attack.
Two mountain lions were euthanized following an extensive search, and investigators are now studying the animals for signs of human DNA. Hikers reportedly threw rocks at the lion to drive it away, Van Hoose said at a press conference. CPW officers who responded to the incident shot at the lion, which fled, and subsequently tracked it down for euthanasia. A second lion was found in the area and was also euthanized. If neither lion appears to be responsible, searches will continue to identify any potential threats.
According to CPW regulations, wild animals that kill a human must be euthanized for public safety reasons. The woman’s body exhibited signs of a mountain lion attack, Van Hoose noted. The local sheriff's office has informed the victim's close relatives and will later announce her identity.
The woman is believed to have been hiking alone. The Crosier Mountain trail is located north of Denver, near the Wyoming border and in close proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park. It can be considered isolated, and Van Hoose added that hikers often lose cell phone signal in this area.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Estes Park police, and volunteer firefighters participated in the search. A biologist conducting a deer study via helicopter in the area assisted in searching for the animal and transporting the response team. Meanwhile, dog hunters brought in dogs to track scent, a method often effective in locating mountain lions.
Mountain lion attacks—both fatal and non-fatal—are rare in Colorado, with CPW recording a total of 28 cases since 1990. Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, catamounts, or panthers, are found throughout North America but primarily reside in 15 western states, according to the Mountain Lion Foundation. They are predominantly solitary animals, spending most of their time hunting.
