Suspicion in the USA: a cougar attacked and killed a hiker in a park in northern Colorado

USA: A woman was found dead yesterday (Thursday) in a park in northern Colorado. Authorities estimate that she was killed by a rare attack by a mountain cougar.

Hikers who were in the area noticed a cougar next to the woman, who was lying on the ground. They threw stones at the cougar and chased it away. When they approached the woman they found that she was lifeless.

“Cougar attacks in Colorado are considered very rare,” said a spokeswoman for CPW, the authority that manages the state’s parks. She said 28 previous attacks had been reported to CPW since 1990, and the last fatal attack was in 1999.

The identity of the woman who was killed has not yet been released, and local authorities continue to investigate the incident. However, the CPW reported that police euthanized two cougars found in the area.

“Wild animals involved in human attacks must be euthanized, for the sake of public safety,” the CPW said. “The animals will undergo a DNA test to determine if they are responsible for the attacks. In addition, they will be tested for diseases such as rabies or bird flu.”

In Colorado there are about 4,000 mountain cougars. The authorities in the US advised anyone who encountered the animal to make noises, hold objects above their heads to increase the volume of their figure – and slowly retreat from the area.