Woman dies in suspected mountain lion attack in Colorado

Officials in Colorado are investigating what appears to be the state's first fatal mountain lion attack in more than 25 years. The incident occurred on January 2, 2026, in a mountainous area of the state, where a woman was found dead with injuries consistent with a mountain lion attack. Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed they are investigating the incident as a suspected mountain lion attack. The last confirmed fatal mountain lion attack in Colorado occurred in 1991, when a 5-year-old boy was killed in Jefferson County. Mountain lions are protected in Colorado, with an estimated population of 3,000-7,000 animals statewide. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the attack.