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Suspected mountain lion attack
A woman hiking alone on a remote section of the Crosier Mountain Trail south of Glen Haven, northern Colorado, was found dead Thursday in what authorities describe as a suspected mountain lion attack.
“A woman hiking alone in the mountains south of Glen Haven, Colorado, was found dead in a suspected mountain lion attack on Thursday, the state’s first fatal mountain lion incident since 1999.”
Two hikers discovered the woman’s body and encountered a mountain lion nearby; they threw rocks to drive it off, and a physician among them checked the victim and found no pulse.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife later located and fatally shot two mountain lions in the area, and searches for any additional animals were reported as ongoing.
Officials have not released detailed information about the woman’s injuries or an official cause of death.
Mountain lion attack rarity
Colorado officials and multiple news outlets emphasized that fatal mountain lion attacks are extremely rare in the state and nationwide.
Reports note that Colorado’s last suspected fatal mountain lion attack occurred in 1999, with additional fatal incidents in the late 1990s.
One outlet cited a long-term tally of about 29 U.S. deaths since 1868 from The Mountain Lion Foundation.
Local reporting described the area as prime mountain lion habitat, noting it is rugged, densely vegetated and hilly, where sightings are common even though attacks remain rare.
Wildlife response and investigation
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) searched the area, located two mountain lions, and fatally shot them.
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Kara Van Hoose) said officers later located and fatally shot two mountain lions in the area; searches for any additional animals continued and further actions would depend on circumstances.”
CPW said searches for other animals continued and that any further action would depend on the circumstances.
Multiple outlets reported that authorities had not immediately released specifics on the victim's injuries or an official cause of death, noting that investigative and forensic determinations were pending.
How outlets framed incident
Coverage across outlets diverged in emphasis beyond the basic facts.
Mainstream U.S. national outlets framed the story around its rarity and official responses.
Local and regional outlets added detailed habitat, proximity, and management context.
An alternative outlet framed the incident primarily as a renewed safety warning advising hikers to travel in groups.
Some pieces connected the death to prior regional incidents, referencing fatal attacks in 1997 and 1999 and a cited March 2024 nonfatal attack in Northern California, while noting these events remain atypical.