Mad moms

CPW urges caution after string of attacks involving moose calves

The moose is loose, and don’t mess with her.

This week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife issued a warning about potentially aggressive cow moose as they protect their young during calving season. The warning was issued in the wake of three recent attacks, which occurred in Park, Grand and Routt counties. Folks are advised to be extra vigilant near water with thick vegetation, where moose often hide their young and be forewarned: nothing pisses them off more than furry four-legged hiking companions.

The first moose attack occurred Fri., May 30, when two women walking four dogs off-leash were charged by a cow moose along Fourmile Creek Road, in Fairplay. After being trampled multiple times, the women eventually were able to climb onto a nearby roof, and a neighbor hazed the moose away with a fire extinguisher. Neither woman sought medical treatment. 

The following day’s incident did not end so well. A couple was returning from a walk with their (leashed) dog in Grand Lake, when a cow moose charged, knocking the woman to the ground. The woman managed to crawl under a storage area, but the moose continued to charge and show aggression. When it showed no signs of leaving, the boyfriend shot and killed the moose.

The woman was treated for injuries, and CPW did not cite the man, as it was determined he shot in self-defense. 

Unfortunately, the calf, which was bedded out of sight, had to be euthanized. “The decision was not easy to make,” Area Wildlife Manager Jeromy Huntington said. “Taking it to a rehab at such a young age would not be in the best interest of the animal's long-term survival in the wild.”

The third incident happened on Sun., June 1, when a woman walking two dogs on leash at River Creek Park, in Steamboat Springs, was attacked by a cow moose. A man on a paddleboard found her on the ground, and when he helped her to the parking lot, the moose returned and kicked him, too. The woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and later flown to the Front Range. The man was evaluated at the scene and released.

Although CPW says the likelihood of moose conflicts are low – since 2019, there have been 22 reported injuries from moose attacks – if you spot a calf, get the eff out of there (not their exact words.) If a moose charges, get behind objects like trees or boulders. And, if you must recreate in riparian areas, make noise and keep dogs on leash.