On Thursday, January 1st, a woman hiking alone in the northern mountainous region of Colorado, United States, was suspected to have been attacked and killed by a mountain lion. Authorities reported that this was the first fatal mountain lion attack in the state in 25 years.
The incident took place in the mountainous area south of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park, a gateway believed to lead to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Around noon that day, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman’s body on a remote section of Crosier Mountain. According to Kara Van Hoose of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department, the two individuals tried to scare the animal away by throwing rocks in an attempt to rescue the woman. One of them was a doctor who examined the victim but could not detect a pulse.
Details regarding the injuries and cause of death of the woman who lost her life have not been released yet.
Van Hoose stated that wildlife officials later found two mountain lions in the area and euthanized them. The search for other mountain lions in the region is still ongoing, and whether other lions will be hunted down will depend on the specific circumstances.
She mentioned that mountain lion sightings are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, but there have been no recorded incidents of mountain lions attacking humans recently.
She also noted, “Every year at this time, many people spot mountain lions in this area, which is remote with dense vegetation, rugged terrain, and varying topography.”
Attacks by mountain lions on humans are extremely rare.
The last suspected fatal mountain lion attack in Colorado occurred in 1999 when a 3-year-old child was killed. In 1997, a 10-year-old boy was bitten and dragged away by a mountain lion while hiking with his family in Rocky Mountain National Park. Last year in Northern California, two brothers were stalked and attacked by a mountain lion, attempting to fend off the animal unsuccessfully, leading to their tragic death.
Mountain lions, also known as cougars, can weigh up to 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and reach lengths exceeding 6 feet (1.8 meters). They primarily prey on deer, with reasons for attacking humans usually involving mistaking them for prey, defending or protecting cubs, being old, injured, or sick and unable to hunt normally, or facing food shortages. In Colorado, an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 mountain lions are categorized as big game animals and can be hunted.
(This article was referenced from the Associated Press report)