Colorado Springs woman mauled to death by mountain lion during hike
A woman was found mauled to death in a remote mountain area of Colorado in a suspected mountain lion attack.
Two hikers found the carnivorous creature standing over the woman’s body around noon on New Year’s Day, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Service.
Hikers threw rocks at the mountain lion to scare it away and then made the terrifying discovery.
One of the hikers was a doctor and could not find a pulse. Authorities did not immediately identify the woman.
The woman’s body was found on the road to Crosier Mountain near the small community of Glen Haven.
“The trails in this area are in fairly remote terrain, so it’s forested, rocky, elevation gains and drops,” CPW spokeswoman Kara Van Hoose said at a news conference.
Multiple agencies are assisting with the investigation into the woman’s horrific death. A mountain lion was shot at the scene but escaped. He was later euthanized.
CPW officials said it was possible more than one mountain lion was involved in the attack.
A woman was found dead in Colorado in what authorities believe was a fatal mountain lion attack
Two mountain lions in the area were later shot and killed by authorities to comply with CPW policy.
A second mountain lion was found nearby and fatally shot. CPW requires that wild animals that attack and kill humans be euthanized.
Pathologists will perform autopsies on animal carcasses to check for abnormalities and neurological diseases.
All three Crosier roads were closed on New Year’s Day as emergency responders cleared the scene.
This tragedy marks the first fatal attack by a mountain lion in Colorado since 1999, according to CPW.
There have been 28 attacks reported in the state in the last 36 years.
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