The Colorado woman that had been killed by a mountain lion has been identified: Kristen Marie Kovatch, 46. She had been walking near Glen Haven, Colorado, "when the carnivorous creature fatally attacked her on New Year's Day." Per the article, "[h]er autopsy revealed her cause of death was asphyxia due to having her neck compressed by the wild animal, the Larimer County Coroner's Office report stated." The article continues:
Kovatch's death was the first fatal attack in Colorado by a mountain lion on a human in a century.
There have been 28 reported attacks in the state in the last 36 years.
The creatures typically weigh up to 130lbs and can grow to be up to six feet long.
They primarily eat deer, but are also known to feast on elk and smaller animals such as rabbits, rodents, and coyotes.
Mountain lions are native to Colorado; however, officials warned that they may be more visible in the winter.
Hikers can scare them off by making noise, appearing bigger, and backing away from the animal.
Update: I thought I would add some additional context. "Mountain lions stalk prey and attack with a rush, often from behind. Their powerful bite crushes the windpipe of their prey or breaks the neck during a kill," writes the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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