A woman hiking in Colorado’s Larimer County was found dead Thursday afternoon in what authorities believe may be the first fatal mountain lion attack in the state in nearly thirty years.
The incident occurred on the Crosier Mountain Trail south of Glen Haven, where several hikers discovered the woman’s body at approximately 12:15 in the afternoon. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Kara Van Hoose, the hikers spotted a person lying on the ground with a mountain lion in close proximity, roughly one hundred yards from their position.
The hikers took immediate action to drive the animal away by throwing rocks, successfully causing the mountain lion to retreat from the area. Upon reaching the woman, one of the hikers, who is a physician, checked for vital signs but found no pulse. The woman’s identity has not been released pending notification of family members.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers responded to the scene with dog teams and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area. Two mountain lions were located and subsequently euthanized, though officials have not confirmed whether both animals were involved in the suspected attack.
“There were signs that this was consistent with a mountain lion attack, but we cannot say for sure,” Van Hoose stated during a news conference Thursday evening. She noted that further investigation by state officials would be necessary to make a definitive determination.
According to established Colorado Parks and Wildlife policy, any wild animal confirmed to have been involved in an attack on a human must be killed. If the investigation confirms a mountain lion was responsible for this death, it would mark the first fatal attack by such an animal in Colorado since the mid-1990s.
Mountain lions are not uncommon in this region of Colorado. The Crosier Mountain Trail has seen at least one other recent encounter with the predators. Glen Haven resident Gary Messina, an experienced trail runner, reported a frightening encounter with a mountain lion on the same trail approximately one month ago.
Messina described running at daybreak while using a headlamp when he spotted eyes on the trail ahead. Initially believing the animal to be a skunk or similar creature, he grew concerned when it did not move as he approached. He diverted off the trail to pass around the animal, at which point he realized the eyes belonged to a mountain lion.
Despite his unsettling experience, Messina expressed respect for the animals. “I do not see them as a threat. They are peaceful animals, and we are in their territory,” he said.
The investigation into Thursday’s incident remains ongoing as wildlife officials work to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
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