Aggressive Moose on the Loose in Colorado: Attacks 50-Year-Old Man Walking With Pets

Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated that a man in his late 50s claimed he surprised a cow moose and her youngster around a trail's hairpin curve close to Hummingbird Lane.

Moose Attack in Colorado

Wildlife officials said that the moose lunged at the victim, knocked him to the ground, and repeatedly stamped on him. Armed with a gun, the man fired two rounds into the ground, scaring the enormous beast away. The moose was not struck.

The dog walker was taken to the hospital, although it was thought that his injuries weren't life-threatening, Denver Post reports.

Leisha Grant, the guy's next-door neighbor, claimed that when a moose emerged from the green area and rushed the man, the man was actually standing on the pathway and not even in the green area.

Summertime Moose Behavior

Dogs are frequently perceived as a danger by moose, who become more hostile when this happens.

Colorado has seen an increase in moose conflicts as the state's population has grown. In the late spring or early summer, moose cows with new calves are more hostile than males.

According to Kara Von Hoose, the Northeast Region public relations officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, cow moose in particular become more aggressive during this time of year when they feel the need to protect their offspring.

The incident took place in a gully in Coal Creek Canyon that is frequently used by animals.

Von Hoose says all of the animals go down there because there is a lot of vegetation. The raspberries appealed to the bear and mountain lions make their kills there.

Moose enjoy being near water and frequently eat aquatic vegetation.

Moose are native to Colorado, although over time they have grown less common. In 1978, the CPW reintroduced them, starting with a dozen animals, there were no active breeding areas. Genetic diversity and a good population expansion were brought about by additional releases. In several regions, including northwest of the Denver metro area, where the incident took place, moose have already established themselves pretty successfully.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife visited the area, but according to KKTV, they were unable to find the mother moose and her offspring.

Also Read: Isle Royale National Park Wildlife in Good Trajectory, Grey Wolves Increase as Moose Decline 

Wildlife and Human Conflicts

According to CPW, wildlife is flourishing because there is a lot of fantastic habitat for them in forests with a variety of foods, which leads to increasing confrontations with people. The guy was shocked by the moose after rounding a bend, which led to the attack in the foothills on Monday. He was trampled but yet managed to haze, or discharge a rifle into the earth.

Some animals may be scared away by loud noises, and in this instance, the moose was successfully scared off. Many various loud noises, including air horns, are beneficial, according to CPW via CBS News.

Moving to a location where there is anything between the human and the animal can also provide protection from an approaching moose assault, according to Von Hoose. However, moose are very swift considering their large legs. They have a top speed of 35 mph.

According to Von Hoose, moose attacks frequently result in their licking their snout or pulling their ears back. They are moving so quickly that you have a small bit of time to act, CBS News reports.

Related Article: First Rabid Moose in Alaska Euthanized After Charging at People; Necropsy Detects Arctic Fox Variant