Mountain Lion That Colorado Runner Killed with Bare Hands Was a Three to Four-Month-Old Kitten

According to a final necropsy report, the mountain lion killed by Fort Collins trail runner Travis Kauffman was estimated to be around three to four months old.

Performed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife veterinarians in Fort Collins, the necropsy recognized the lion as a young kitten with a weight of 24 pounds. But the animal was scavenged after its passing, and officials determined its live weight was 35 to 40 pounds.

Kauffman said that he worried other mountain lions would assault him in the area. He particularly dreaded the mother of the lion he killed would stand up to him.

The report also classified the animal in "fair condition'' with no indication of rabies.

"Blood-staining of the scavenged tissues suggests the scavenging took place perimortem (meaning taking place at or around the time of death),'' as indicated by the necropsy.

The necropsy continued that the "pattern of scavenging is reminiscent of feline predation.''

On February 4, Kauffman, 31, had been running along a Horsetooth Mountain Park trail in Fort Collins, Colorado, when the mountain lion attacked him.

He said the creature jumped at him and hooked its jaw onto his right wrist. As it clawed at him, Kauffman said that he attempted to shield his face. He and the cat eventually tumbled down a slope.

Although Kauffman tried to toss a stick at the lion, they were rotten and breaking. He at that point picked up a big rock and decided to hit the cat in the head with it.

As per Kauffman, he had the capacity to transition his body weight. He then moved his right leg up toward his wrist. In the end, Kauffman was able to step on the cat's neck. He killed the animal by choking it.

Because of the incident, the runner received 19 stitches along his left cheek, another six stitches on the bridge of his nose and three stitches on his wrist.

In a press conference held in Fort Collins, Kauffman said that he worried other mountain lions would assault him in the area. He particularly dreaded the mother of the lion he killed would stand up to him.