Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Reopening After Reported Mountain Lion Sighting

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Reopening After Mountain Lion Sighting

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space is set to reopen on Friday, January 23rd following a scare involving a hiker.

Mountain Lion Encounter Prompts Closure of Horsetooth Trails

On Thursday, January 22nd, Larimer County Natural Resources shut down the main and Soderberg trailheads after receiving reports of a mountain lion showing some odd and suspicious behavior toward a hiker, according to reports.

Get our free mobile app

Hiker Describes Mountain Lion Following and Lunging

The hiker told officials that the lion was approximately 250 yards away from him and then started following him. He went on to say that the lion lunged at him, but never got closer than 75 to 100 yards, according to reports.

Larimer County Officials Close Area Out of Caution

That morning, they closed the area out of an abundance of caution.

Read More: Mountain Lion Claims Life of Fort Collins Woman in Early January

While it was closed, staff and the Colorado parks and Wildlife monitored the area, but they could not find the creature.

Recent Larimer County Fatal Mountain Lion Attack Raises Safety Concerns

All of this comes just a few weeks after a mountain lion killed a hiker in Larimer County. Officials ended up euthanizing it in accordance with their policies.

Read More: Low Snow Doesn’t Stop These Top-Ranked Colorado Cross-Country Ski Resorts

You can read more about that initial story here.

Mountain Lion Safety Tips for Hikers in Colorado

If you ever encounter a mountain lion, be aware of these key things:

• Don't approach the mountain lion
• Stay calm
• Make yourself look bigger
• Defend yourself

We'll keep you updated if anything changes or if there are any additional developments to this story.