Authorities have identified the woman who was killed in a rare mountain lion attack while hiking in Colorado as Kristen Marie Kovatch, a 46 year old medical assistant from Fort Collins.
According to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office, Kovatch was hiking on Thursday afternoon on the Crosier Mountain Trail near Glen Haven when she was fatally attacked by a mountain lion. An autopsy later confirmed that her cause of death was asphyxia caused by compression of the neck by the wild animal.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said two mountain lions, one male and one female, were located near the scene following the incident and were euthanized for public safety reasons. A necropsy conducted on the animals revealed that human DNA was found on all four paws of the male subadult mountain lion, while no human DNA was detected on the female. Both animals tested negative for rabies.
Officials said two hikers came across the scene on New Year’s Day around noon and found a mountain lion standing over Kovatch’s body. The hikers threw rocks at the animal in an effort to scare it away before discovering that the woman was unresponsive. One of the hikers, who was a physician, checked for a pulse and confirmed that she had died at the scene.
Following the fatal encounter, Colorado Parks and Wildlife temporarily closed all Crosier Mountain trails as emergency responders and wildlife officers secured the area and assessed the possibility of additional animals. Authorities initially searched for a third mountain lion but later announced that the search had ended. The trails have since reopened to the public, although warning signs and educational messages about mountain lion activity remain posted throughout the area.
Kovatch’s family described her as a passionate outdoor enthusiast who loved hiking, endurance running, and spending time in nature. In a message shared on social media, her brother, Jeffrey Kovatch, said she died doing something she loved and expressed deep grief over the loss of his sister, whom he described as a devoted family member and caregiver.
Kovatch previously worked as a medical assistant at UCHealth Heart and Vascular Clinic in Fort Collins from 2011 to 2021. In a statement, UCHealth confirmed her employment and said the organization was saddened by her death, extending condolences to her family, friends, and former colleagues.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife noted that fatal mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare. This incident marks the first confirmed fatal mountain lion attack in Colorado in more than 100 years. Records show there have been 28 reported mountain lion attacks in the state over the past 36 years, most of which were non fatal.
Wildlife officials explained that mountain lions are native to Colorado and primarily prey on deer and smaller animals. They warned that encounters may increase during winter months as prey animals move to lower elevations. Authorities advised hikers to remain alert on trails, avoid hiking alone when possible, make noise to avoid surprising wildlife, and take steps to appear larger if confronted by a mountain lion.
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