Colorado woman's death believed to be caused by mountain lion on Crosier Mountain Trail
A woman is believed to have been killed by at least one mountain lion on the Crosier Mountain Trail in Colorado on Wednesday.
If confirmed, this would be Colorado's first fatal mountain lion attack since 1999.
A group of hikers discovered the woman's body and spotted a lion nearby, which they scared off, finding no pulse afterwards, according to CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoose.
It is not yet known whether one or more lions were involved; following an extensive search, two mountain lions have been euthanised.
Investigators are examining these lions for signs of human DNA to determine if either was the attacker.
During the incident, hikers threw rocks at the mountain lion to drive it away; CPW officers then shot the lion, which ran off but was tracked and euthanised. A second lion found in the area was also euthanised.
If neither lion is found to be the culprit, the search for a possible attacker will continue.
Under Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) rules, any wildlife that kills a human must be euthanised for public safety reasons.
The woman's identity will be released later, and her next of kin notified.
The Crosier Mountain Trail is located north of Denver, near the Wyoming border and close to Rocky Mountain National Park; the area is secluded and often experiences lost cell signals.
