LARIMER COUNTY — On Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 12:15 p.m., a group of hikers on Crosier Mountain Trail, south of Glen Haven, suddenly stopped when they discovered a mountain lion 100 yards in front of them, standing over the body of a woman lying on the trail.

After throwing rocks to haze the mountain lion away, one of the hikers, a physician, checked for the woman’s vital signs, but there was no pulse.

An autopsy of the body conducted on January 5 indicated that 46-year-old Kristen Marie Kovatch of Fort Collins died of asphyxia due to external neck compression, consistent with a fatal attack by a mountain lion.

Death as a result of a mountain lion attack had not been reported in Colorado for nearly three decades, though four such fatal attacks had occurred between 1990 and 1999, two of which involved children under 11 years old. 

Though there were evident signs that Kovatch’s death was caused by a mountain lion attack, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers were reluctant to confirm that as fact on the day Kovatch was found, as the proper investigation had yet to be completed, including the autopsy.

CPW protocol dictates that the officers locate and euthanize any nearby mountain lions suspected of being involved with the death or in contact with the body. Wildlife officials and a team of dogs hunted down and euthanized two mountain lions.

Several trailheads around Crosier Mountain remained closed over the weekend as the hunt for a third mountain lion continued. Despite the third mountain lion never being found, trails reopened on Monday, January 5. 

Necropsy results of the two euthanized mountain lions were also released Monday. Though neither showed any signs of rabies or other neurological diseases, one of them had human DNA on its paws. 

CPW stated having received several reports of mountain lion sightings and attacks in the Glen Haven area since October, including fatal attacks on two dogs, and a report by Glen Haven resident Gary Messina of being attacked while jogging on a remote trail early in the morning in November.   

Mountain lions can be up to eight feet in length, weigh 150 pounds, and are tan in color with black tips on their ears and long tail. They can be found near piñon pine, juniper, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine, and oak brush.

In winter they follow deer and elk to lower elevations and, in addition to hunting deer and elk, have been known to stalk livestock and domestic animals.

Mountain lions typically stalk prey from behind, and are most active when the sun is down. CPW advises always to keep an eye on your pets when recreating and staying in the backcountry, and to keep them on a leash when hiking.

It is suggested to walk or hike in groups, carry a walking stick and pocket full of rocks, and keep children close. If encountering a mountain lion on trail, remain calm, appear large, speak firmly, and use your rocks and walking stick if the animal gets aggressive.

Nederland and Boulder County certainly have had their own share of mountain lion sightings and attacks. The number has slightly dropped since there was a spike of incidents in 2022, which included over 20 calls regarding missing pets or pets that had been attacked. 

In late 2025, there have been reports from Nederland residents of sightings as close as Barker Road, Hurricane Hill Road, and the Magnolia intersection at Highway 119. There have also been several incidents of missing pets which have yet to be updated. 

To contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) if you witness any issues or aggressive behavior from local wildlife, call 303-291-7227 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For other emergency needs, you can contact Colorado State Patrol at 303-239-4501 at any time of the day or week. To anonymously report any illegal wildlife activity, call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-COLO-OGT.