CBS Colorado’s Alan Gionet describes a small Colorado community reeling after what investigators believe could be the first deadly mountain lion attack in the state this century.
In his reporting, a group of hikers came upon a mountain lion near a woman lying on the ground on the Crosier Mountain Trail in Glen Haven in Larimer County, then scared the animal off and found the woman had no pulse.
Gionet reports that one of the witnesses was a physician who checked and did not find a pulse. He adds that the woman was reportedly hiking alone and was discovered on the trail a little after noon.
In a state where wildlife is part of daily life, that kind of detail hits hard. People accept elk in the road and bear sightings as “Colorado stuff,” but a fatal encounter on a familiar trail changes the emotional math overnight.
CBS Colorado’s Michael Abeyta frames it as a reminder that dangers can be closer than people think, even along the Front Range. Abeyta says the weather has been inviting people outside, but he stresses the importance of having a plan because wildlife can be “a lot closer than you think.”
A Couple Says They Were “Surrounded” On The Same Trail
CBS Colorado’s Dillon Thomas moves the story from the fatal scene to something that’s making locals even more uneasy: multiple people say they’ve had close calls in the same area.
Thomas reports that a Glen Haven resident, Kellie Mahoney, shared video showing four mountain lions walking through her yard near the trail where the woman died. In Thomas’s interview, Mahoney reacts in disbelief at how close they were – she says the cats were “right ten feet from our bedroom.”
Thomas asks Mahoney if she’s ever seen this level of activity in the ten years she’s had the property, and Mahoney answers plainly: “Never. Never.” She tells Thomas that after the fatal attack, it opened her eyes to the fact they’re living in nature, and that the animals see people even when people don’t see them.
Thomas then introduces a couple whose account sounds like something out of a nightmare. Andrew Dieffenbach and Lindsey Jones tell Thomas they were hiking on the same trail where the woman died when a mountain lion began stalking them.
Dieffenbach tells Thomas they started yelling and throwing rocks, but when they did that, the lion started coming toward them, slinking through the brush in what he describes as a stalking posture. Jones tells Thomas she was in disbelief, repeating that she couldn’t believe it was happening.
They tried to retreat down the mountain, according to Thomas, but then the situation escalated fast. Dieffenbach says a second mountain lion appeared, jumped down, and began coming toward them in what he describes as an aggressive way – showing teeth, walking sideways, and slashing.
Then comes the line that explains why people in Glen Haven are suddenly looking over their shoulders. Dieffenbach tells Thomas he saw a third cat, a juvenile, coming up behind them. He says they assumed they were going to be eaten.
They got away and reported it, Thomas says, but when they later heard someone died on that trail, Jones describes the physical reaction: every hair on her body rose, and she wasn’t surprised given how close they came to the same situation.
It’s hard to hear accounts like that and not think about how quickly a casual hike can turn into a survival problem. People imagine danger as a single animal charging out of nowhere, but the idea of multiple cats working angles around you is what makes the story stick in your head.
What Colorado Parks And Wildlife Says About Risk
Abeyta’s reporting includes the broader context from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. He notes CPW says the fatal attack is tragic, but not common, and he shares the timeline CPW gave: the last time someone was attacked in Colorado was 2023, and the last time someone was killed was 1999, when 3-year-old Jared Matadero died in Larimer County.
Abeyta also shares CPW’s reminder that caution on the trail isn’t just about mountain lions. A CPW representative tells him people can encounter bears and moose too, and that any time of year, hikers should be prepared for wildlife encounters.
Abeyta explains why winter can bring more lion calls: CPW says deer and elk spend winters at lower elevations along the Front Range where food is easier to find, and lions naturally follow them. He also includes a point that feels almost unsettling because it’s probably true: CPW says lions are very good at hiding, so often lions will see you, but you won’t see them.
That’s the part that gets people. It’s not just “there are lions out there.” It’s the idea that the lion might already be watching you, and you’re walking along thinking you’re alone.
Abeyta’s segment also turns practical. He says hikers can look for lion tracks, scat, and something called a “cache,” like a deer or elk kill that looks partially buried. And he repeats CPW’s advice for an encounter: be as big and loud and mean as possible.
He also makes a very straightforward recommendation that a lot of experienced outdoors people already live by: carry bear spray. Abeyta notes it’s called bear spray, but it’s useful for all kinds of attackers on the trail.
The Other Encounters That Make This Feel Bigger Than One Attack
Gionet’s earlier reporting adds another layer: this trail didn’t just become “the lion trail” because of one incident. He reports that a trail runner, Gary Messina, had a confrontation on the exact same trail about a month earlier.
Messina tells Gionet that for about two minutes he was scared for his life because the cat was circling him and trying to pounce. Messina says he finally grabbed a branch and struck the lion across the face, which made it snarl and back off.
Gionet reports Messina threw items at the animal, including his phone, and later went back to retrieve it. Messina also tells Gionet the lion felt big and healthy, not like a smaller adolescent cat he’d seen before.
Gionet says Messina spread word around Glen Haven to warn people and also told wildlife authorities. That detail matters because it shows locals weren’t just quietly spooked – they were actively trying to flag a pattern.
Thomas’s reporting focuses on Mahoney’s video and the “surrounded” account, but the combined picture from Abeyta, Thomas, and Gionet is what makes this story feel so tense: one fatal event, plus several serious encounters, plus repeated sightings close to homes.
At a certain point, residents stop feeling like they’re hearing “one rare tragedy,” and start feeling like they’re living in an active problem.
What Officials Are Doing Now And Why “Certainty” Is Hard
Gionet reports Colorado Parks and Wildlife has already killed two mountain lions in the area as the investigation began. He says one lion was shot on scene by officers, later tracked and euthanized, and a second lion was located in the area and euthanized as well.
Abeyta and Thomas also report that wildlife officials were looking for a third mountain lion, and that trails near Crosier Mountain were closed while the search and investigation continued.
Gionet reports CPW planned to study the euthanized animals to see whether human DNA could be found, and to check whether the animals were healthy. He also reports CPW pathologists would conduct necropsies looking for abnormalities or neurological diseases, including rabies and avian influenza.
This is where the story gets frustrating in a very real-world way. People want a clear answer – “Was it that lion?” – but investigations in wild terrain aren’t like investigations in a parking lot with clear camera angles.
Even in Abeyta’s segment, the message is basically: lions are elusive, and people may be closer to them than they realize. That’s true, but it also means the public may not get immediate closure.
And until there’s closure, the phrase “still on the loose” becomes less of a headline hook and more of a feeling locals carry around when they step outside at night or think about taking a morning run.
How To Think About The Outdoors After This
Abeyta doesn’t suggest people stop going outside. He suggests going out smarter and more prepared, and that’s the right balance. The outdoors is part of life in places like Glen Haven, and fear-based shutdowns don’t last long.
But if Thomas is right about the spike in activity Mahoney is seeing, and if Dieffenbach and Jones are right about multiple cats behaving aggressively, then a little extra caution isn’t paranoia – it’s basic sense.
If you’re hiking, don’t go alone if you can avoid it. Pay attention to signs like tracks, scat, and unusual behavior from prey animals, the way Abeyta explains.
If you do encounter a lion, the guidance Abeyta shares is blunt for a reason: don’t act like prey. Make yourself big, loud, and hard to approach, and carry spray that can actually create distance.
And if you live near the trailheads, Mahoney’s reaction in Thomas’s reporting feels like the most honest takeaway: you may have to change the way you do things for a while.
Not forever, but long enough for officials to sort out what’s happening – and for people to remember that “nature” isn’t a backdrop. It’s active, it’s close, and sometimes it pushes right up to the edge of your porch.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.
