A female hiker was killed Thursday on the Crosier Mountain trail in Larimer County, Colorado, according to state officials.
Her name has not been released. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the death is the state’s first fatal mountain lion attack since 1999.
Hikers reported seeing a lion near the victim
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said a group of hikers encountered a mountain lion near the victim’s body and drove it off by throwing rocks, causing the animal to run away.
Officers later euthanized two mountain lions in the area. CPW said its policy requires wildlife involved in attacks on humans to be euthanized.
Search continues as officials warn encounters rise in winter
Authorities have not determined how many animals were involved. Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told ABC News that officials are also looking for a potential third mountain lion linked to the incident.
In its release, CPW urged hikers to take extra precautions in winter, noting that mountain lions are more visible as they follow deer and elk to lower elevations. The agency advised people to make noise, raise objects overhead to look bigger, and back away if a lion is seen, while keeping pets leashed and away from wildlife.
More Than 100 Firefighters Battle Five-Alarm Blaze at Denver Construction Site
Community reaction and ongoing closures
Kellie Mahoney, who owns a cabin near where the attack happened, said in a video shared with ABC News that she previously saw four mountain lions together in the area.
The Estes Park Police Department, which responded to the scene, posted condolences online for the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones.
Trails on the mountain remain closed, according to a U.S. Forest Service post.
Mountain lions—also called cougars, pumas, panthers, or catamounts—are estimated by CPW to number roughly 3,800 to 4,400 in the wild in Colorado.
Sources:
ABC News / Colorado hiker killed in mountain lion attack: Officials
