Some scary and heartbreaking mountain lion activity in the state of Colorado has been alarming people over the last several weeks. Tragedy struck when a woman was the victim of a fatal attack. Following that incident, a separate sighting and ‘suspicious behavior’ forced officials to briefly close a nearby trail.
Woman Killed in Rare Mountain Lion Attack in Northern Colorado
On January 1, 2026, The Associated Press reported on a mountain lion attack in northern Colorado after a 46-year-old woman was killed on the Crosier Mountain Trail. The authorities described it as the first fatal predator attack in the state in over 25 years.
Kara Van Hoose of Colorado Parks and Wildlife told the media that two mountain lions, one of which was later deemed to have human DNA on its paws, were found in the area and euthanized. The animals were discovered by two people, one of whom was a physician, shortly after the attack. They threw rocks at the pair of lions to scare them away before attempting to help the victim and calling for help.
Days later, Larimer County’s website reported on the findings of an investigation that was conducted into the woman’s death. A full forensic autopsy was performed on January 5, 2026, by Dr. J. White, D.O., who ruled that the cause of death was a mountain lion attack.
Separate Mountain Lion Behavior Led to a Temporary Trail Closure in Colorado
Roughly three weeks after the fatal attack, a mountain lion was spotted in Colorado’s Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, west of Fort Collins. According to a 9 News article on that incident, the animal exhibited “suspicious behavior” toward a hiker by following them, but never got closer than 75 to 100 yards away from the man…