A hiker was believed to have been killed by a mountain lion on a remote Colorado trail on New Year’s Day, marking a rare deadly attack in the state. Gary Messina had a close encounter with a mountain lion in November, using a stick to fend it off, which he suspects could be the same animal that attacked the hiker.
Authorities reported that the woman found on the trail had wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack, and an autopsy is pending. Colorado Parks and Wildlife killed two mountain lions in the area and are seeking a third. Despite regular mountain lion sightings, fatal attacks on humans are uncommon, with the last occurring in 1999. Wildlife officials noted that mountain lions typically do not target humans; rather, the increased human-wildlife overlap may lead to more encounters.
Recommendations for preventing attacks include traveling in groups, keeping a safe distance from cubs, and being cautious during dawn and dusk when lions are most active.
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