Man fought off a mountain lion weeks before a suspected fatal Colorado attack
ABC News••general
Key Points:
- A woman found dead on a remote Colorado trail on New Year's Day suffered wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack, prompting wildlife officials to kill two mountain lions in the area for investigation.
- Gary Messina previously encountered an aggressive mountain lion on the same trail in November, fighting it off with a stick; officials suspect it could be the same animal involved in the fatal attack.
- Mountain lion sightings are common in the Crosier Mountain area due to suitable habitat, but attacks on humans are rare, with the last fatal Colorado incident occurring in 1999.
- Wildlife officials are continuing to search for a third mountain lion reported in the area, keeping nearby trails closed for public safety during the ongoing investigation.
- Experts advise precautions such as
