CPW confirms lion killed by officers was responsible for attack on Pitkin Co. child

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed that the lion officers killed on June 17 is the one who attacked a child in the Lower Woody Creek community.

Through DNA analysis, a health lab in Fort Collins was able to confirm that it was the same one that injured the child. Officials believe the animal was between 7-9 months and weighed around 40 pounds.

The lion also tested negative for plague and rabies.

“This is very good work by everyone involved,” said CPW Northwest Regional Manager Ron Velarde. “From the time of the incident to the verification that the right lion was killed, there was a lot of hard work going on in the background by very professional people to get these results in a timely manner.”

Immediately after the child’s parents reported the attack, a Pitkin County deputy and a federal law enforcement officer working for the U.S. Forest Service arrived at the scene and discovered a lion under a tree in the backyard of the home.

“The deputy and the federal officer contacted CPW Area Wildlife Manager Perry Will, who requested that the lion be killed immediately,” said Velarde. “I agree with the decision by my AWM, and thank the federal officer that killed the lion for his quick actions.”

Witnesses also reported seeing a second lion nearby when the first one attacked on Friday. The next day, CPW officers and an agent with the USDA’s Wildlife Services tracked and killed the second lion.

“We acted out of an abundance of caution when we made the decision to kill the second lion,” said Velarde. “These two cats were traveling together and learning to hunt and survive together, and one of them attacked a child. We are not going to take chances in a situation like this. It is the right decision.”

Velarde adds that in cases when wildlife has injured a person, human health and safety is the priority and guides the agency’s actions in finding and killing the responsible animal.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and the family,” he said. “This is a tough thing for any parent to experience. The mother’s reaction to fight the lion likely saved the child’s life and it is a good thing she responded like she did.”

Wildlife officials say both lions were not old enough to survive on their own. Though not confirmed, they suspect the mother had likely been killed in a separate incident.