In days that have followed the fatal mountain lion attack that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Kristen Marie Kovatch, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released the details of numerous human-animal encounters with the big cat species that took place in the same general area in recent weeks.

Here’s a look at five events Colorado Parks and Wildlife was aware of that preceded Kovatch’s death:

On October 28, 2025: An off-leash dog is killed by a mountain lion in nearby Estes Park during a hike with its owner in the area of McGraw Ranch Road. This area is about 2.5 miles northeast of downtown Estes Park and about halfway between the town and Crosier Mountain. While this incident took place in October, it wasn’t reported until November 20.

On October 29, 2025: An off-leash dog was snatched by a mountain lion during a hike with its owner on West Creek Road in Larimer County. The report on the matter says that the mountain lion “suddenly appeared” and grabbed the dog. The incident was reported the following day, and despite an official effort to locate mountain lions in the area, no mountain lions were found. West Creek Road is located about two miles west of Crosier Mountain in the Glen Haven area.

On November 12, 2025: A male trail runner was approached by a mountain lion on Crosier Mountain Trail – the same trail where the fatal attack took place weeks later – and was able to successfully haze it away with a branch and by throwing objects. The runner told the Associated Press that the mountain lion would lunge during any attempted retreat, with the man ultimately striking the lion on the head with a baseball bat-size stick to scare it off. The incident was reported on the same day and wildlife officers responded but were again unable to locate a mountain lion in the area. This encounter prompted additional signage on the trail to accompany the permanent signage, though the temporary signs were removed a few weeks later.

Editor’s Note: The Associated Press reports that this incident took place on November 11. The OutThere Colorado team reached out to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, who reports that the incident took place on November 12 and was reported on the same day.

On November 30, 2025: A couple encountered two mountain lions while hiking near the Crosier Mountain summit with the couple able to successfully haze them away. According to a report on the matter, one mountain lion was spotted ahead of the couple, with another spotted behind them. No physical contact was made, with a report on the encounter received by officials via voicemail the following day. Wildlife officers responded but were unable to locate the lions. This incident again prompted the addition of extra signage warning about the presence of mountain lions, with that signage still in place during the January 1 attack.

On December 23, 2025: A man living on County Road 43 in Glen Haven, just west of Crosier Mountain, shot and killed a mountain lion while it was attacking his dog in his yard. The incident was reported the following day, with the lion determined to be an adult male that was about three years old with no abnormalities. Following the investigation, no citations were issued. It’s important to note that Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists don’t believe this mountain lion was a parent of either of the subadults that were killed following the recent attack.

January 1, 2026: The fatal attack occurs on Crosier Mountain Trail, resulting in the death of 46-year-old Kristen Marie Kovatch of Fort Collins.

There are three big takeaways related to this timeline of encounters.

First, that mountain lions can be extremely difficult to track, even when a report is made. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials attempted to find the mountain lions that were involved in these encounters, but were unable to each time. Mountain lion tend to be extremely elusive, and many times, their presence goes unknown.

The second big takeaway is that timely reporting of an encounter is crucial for successful mitigation. The more time that elapses, the more time a mountain lion has to leave the area. By shrinking the time between an encounter and a report, it increases the likelihood that a mountain lion will be found.

And third – if a mountain lion is encountered in the wild, hazing it away is the proper approach opposed to attempting to run. Running can trigger a chase response, while hazing it away by throwing objects in its direction can get it to leave an area or back off. Loud noises can work, too. It’s important not to crouch down and to keep your eyes on the mountain lion while retreating, as well. Mountain lion attacks are extremely rare, but it’s important to know what to do if you happen to spot one in the area.

An encounter with a mountain lion in Colorado’s backcountry is an inevitable possibility. The state is home to around 3,800 to 4,400 members of the species – while they’re not often seen, their range spans much of the state’s rugged terrain.

Report a mountain lion sighting or encounter by calling your local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office. Find contact details here.

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