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Wildlife officials say signs point to a mountain lion attack on a hiker in northern Colorado, the state’s first suspected fatal encounter in more than 20 years.
WASHINGTON — A woman has died in what officials believe was a rare mountain lion attack in northern Colorado, marking the state’s first suspected fatal encounter with the animal in more than two decades.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, hikers on the Crosier Mountain trail in unincorporated Larimer County reported seeing a mountain lion near a person lying on the ground around 12:15 p.m. Thursday. The hikers threw rocks to scare the animal away and then went to help the adult woman.
But one of the witnesses who was a physician did not find a pulse, Kara Van Hoose, spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife told KUSA.
The woman, who is believed to have been hiking alone, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity and official cause of death will be released by the Larimer County Coroner.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said there were signs consistent with a mountain lion attack, though investigators have not confirmed whether one or more animals were involved.
State policy requires wildlife involved in attacks on humans to be euthanized for public safety.
The agency launched an extensive search with help from local law enforcement, firefighters, a wildlife biologist conducting aerial surveys and houndsmen using dogs to track the mountain lion.
One mountain lion was located at the scene, shot and later euthanized after fleeing. A second mountain lion found nearby was also euthanized. Necropsies will also be performed to test for disease and any presence of human DNA.
Mountain lions — also known as cougars, pumas or catamounts — can weigh 130 pounds and grow to more than six feet long. They primarily eat deer.
Colorado has an estimated 3,800-4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted. But mountain lion attacks on humans in Colorado are very rare. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said it has recorded 28 attacks since 1990, with the last fatal incident occurring in 1999, when a three-year-old was killed.
Officials described the area as remote and heavily wooded, noting that mountain lions are more visible during winter months as they follow deer and elk to lower elevations.
“This is an area where mountain lions are really common, along with a lot of other wildlife like bears and moose,” Van Hoose said. “Because mountain lion are really common in this area, we do expect to have conflicts with regular things like sightings or encounters with dogs.”
The agency advises hikers to make noise, appear larger and slowly back away if they encounter a mountain lion, and to keep pets leashed while on trails.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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