Mountain Lion Attack: Ultramarathoner Killed by Pack in Colorado

Fatal Mountain Lion Attack

• ⚠️ A pack of mountain lions is responsible for the fatal New Year's Day attack on 46-year-old ultramarathon runner Kristen Marie Kovatch.
• 📍 The attack occurred while Kovatch was on a solo hike near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
• 🔍 Hikers discovered the woman on the trail and attempted to scare the lion away by throwing rocks, but she had wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack.

Personal Encounter with a Mountain Lion

• 🐕 Three months prior to the fatal attack, Mary Cone had an encounter with a mountain lion on the same trail while hiking with her 13-year-old terrier, Sugar.
• 🐾 The mountain lion approached silently and calmly, then grabbed the dog by its neck.
• 😥 Cone retreated as the mountain lion attacked her dog, noting that two other mountain lions were pacing nearby.

Safety Tips for Mountain Lion Encounters

• 🗣️ If confronted by a mountain lion, make noise and do not approach it.
• ⬆️ Make yourself look bigger by holding your arms over your head.
• 🚶 Back away slowly from the animal.
• 🏃 Do not run, as this can trigger a predatory chase response.