At a Glance
- A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack in northern Colorado.
- First fatal attack in the state in over 25 years.
- Two lions were located and shot later that day.
- Why it matters: Rare but serious wildlife encounters underscore the need for caution on remote trails.
A woman hiking alone was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack in the mountains south of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park, Colorado, on Thursday. The incident marks the first fatal attack in the state in more than 25 years. Wildlife officers later found and shot two lions in the area.
Attack Details
The attack occurred on the remote Crosier Mountain trail, a section of national forest. Two hikers found the lion near the victim’s body just before noon and threw rocks to scare it away while they tried to help.
Kara Van Hoose said:
> “The hikers threw rocks at the animal to scare it from the immediate area so they could try to help the woman, Van Hoose said. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, she said.”
- Location: Crosier Mountain trail, national forest
- Time: shortly before noon
- Response: hikers used rocks to deter the lion
Wildlife Response
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers later found two lions in the area and fatally shot them. The search for additional lions remains ongoing, with decisions to kill or not based on circumstances.
Kara Van Hoose said:
> “Van Hoose said the search for other mountain lions in the area was ongoing. She said circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed.”
- Two lions were located and shot
- Search for other lions is ongoing
- Future killings depend on circumstances
Historical Context
Sightings of mountain lions are common in this forested area, but there have been no recent documented attacks on humans. The last suspected fatal attack in Colorado was in 1999 when a 3-year-old was killed, and in 1997 a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion in Rocky Mountain National Park. In March 2024, two brothers in Northern California were stalked and then attacked by a lion; one brother was killed.
Kara Van Hoose said:
> “Sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, but there have not been any recent documented attacks on humans, Van Hoose said.”
- Last fatal attack: 1999 (3-year-old)
- 1997 incident: 10-year-old boy killed in RMNP
- 2024 California incident: two brothers attacked, one killed
Key Takeaways
- The incident marks the first fatal mountain lion attack in Colorado in 25 years.
- Two lions were found and shot by wildlife officers.
- The state has an estimated 3,800-4,400 mountain lions, a big game species that can be hunted.
The rare fatal attack underscores the importance of preparedness and vigilance when venturing into remote mountain trails.
