Glen Haven, Colorado — A solo hiker who officials suspect was killed by a mountain lion on New Year’s Day was not the first to experience a dangerous encounter with wildlife on a remote trail in the area. Recent reports indicate that similar encounters had already raised concerns among outdoor enthusiasts in the region.
One local runner, Gary Messina, recounted a frightening incident from November when he spotted glowing eyes in the brush while jogging along the same path. In a desperate attempt to escape, he threw his phone and kicked dirt at the approaching mountain lion. After several tense moments, he managed to fend off the animal by striking it with a stick before it fled the scene. Messina believes it could be the same lion involved in the recent fatal attack.
Authorities confirmed that the body of the female hiker found on Crosier Mountain exhibited wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack. An autopsy is planned for next week to determine the exact cause of death, as stated by a representative from the Larimer County Coroner’s Office. Following the discovery, wildlife officials tracked and shot two mountain lions in the vicinity, one directly at the attack site and another nearby. They will conduct a necropsy to assess whether the lions were responsible and to check for any diseases, such as rabies.
As the search for a third mountain lion continues, nearby trails remain closed to the public. Officials indicated that the fate of this additional animal would depend on the circumstances surrounding its capture or sightings. Messina expressed concern about the aggressiveness of the lion he encountered, suggesting it may be the same one that attacked the woman.
Mountain lion sightings in the mountainous area near Rocky Mountain National Park are not unusual, given its dense forests and rugged terrain, which provide ample habitat for these predators. However, attacks on humans remain rare. The last recorded fatality in Colorado occurred in 1999, when a young boy went missing in the wilderness, with clothing found years later. In a similar incident in 1997, a 10-year-old boy was killed while hiking with family.
Witnesses reported discovering the victim’s body around noon, noting a mountain lion in the vicinity. In a dire effort to scare it off, they hurled rocks as one of them, a physician, attempted to render aid but found no signs of life. The victim is expected to be publicly identified after the coroner’s findings.
Mountain lions, also referred to as cougars or pumas, can weigh up to 130 pounds and measure over six feet long, primarily feeding on deer. Colorado is home to an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 of these big game animals, which are legal to hunt.
The latest reported attack marks the fourth fatal incident involving mountain lions in North America in the last decade and the 30th since 1868. Most predatory attacks occur during daylight hours, often when humans are most active in lion territories; this suggests that the lions are typically not seeking out human interaction.
Byron Weckworth, a conservation officer, emphasized that as human development increasingly encroaches on natural habitats, encounters between people and mountain lions are likely to grow—not because the cats are becoming more aggressive, but due to the overlapping of habitats.
To minimize risks, officials recommend traveling in groups, keeping children close, and avoiding times when lions are most active, during dawn and dusk. If confronted by a mountain lion, it is advised to maintain eye contact, appear larger, and back away slowly rather than running, which could trigger a chase response.
In a tragic parallel, two brothers in Northern California were attacked by a mountain lion last year while hiking, resulting in one of them losing their life in the altercation.
