A mountain lion attacked a runner Monday afternoon on a trail in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space and the runner, who was bitten and injured, killed the big cat, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The victim was running on West Ridge Trail “when he was attacked from behind,” according to a news release.
He was able to fight off the big cat, killing it in the process. The man hiked to safety and was able to get to a local hospital on his own, officials said. On Monday evening the victim was being treated for serious injuries including facial bite wounds and lacerations to his arms, legs and back. The man, who was not identified, is expected to recover.
Wildlife officials described the cat as a “juvenile.” The man killed the lion in “self-defense.”
Mountain lion attacks in Colorado are rare, officials said. The act of running may have triggered the young lion’s instinct to hunt.
“Mountain lion attacks are not common in Colorado and it is unfortunate that the lion’s hunting instincts were triggered by the runner,” said Ty Petersburg, area wildlife manager for CPW. “This could have had a very different outcome.”
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