Colorado Hiker Dies in Suspected Mountain Lion Attack

A woman was found dead on the Crosier Mountain trail in Larimer County, Colorado, on Thursday, in what authorities suspect is the state's first fatal mountain lion attack since 1999.

Around 12:15 p.m., hikers spotted a mountain lion near the victim's body approximately 100 yards away. They scared the animal off by throwing rocks and attempted to assist the woman but found no pulse.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers, along with local law enforcement and firefighters, responded to the scene. A CPW biologist conducting aerial surveys assisted in locating two mountain lions in the area, both of which were euthanized in accordance with CPW policy requiring the euthanasia of wildlife involved in human attacks.

The Larimer County Coroner's Office will release the victim's identity and cause of death following an autopsy. CPW pathologists will perform necropsies on the mountain lions to check for abnormalities and diseases such as rabies and avian influenza.

Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare in Colorado, with 28 reported incidents since 1990. The last fatal attack occurred in 1999.

CPW advises hikers to be vigilant, especially during winter when mountain lions follow deer and elk to lower elevations. If encountering a mountain lion, individuals should make noise to scare it away, hold objects overhead to appear larger, and back away slowly. Pets should be kept on a leash and not interact with wildlife.