A Flurry of Moose Attacks in Colorado Prompts a Warning to Dog Owners

Following a trio of moose attacks in Colorado, state officials are asking dog owners in mountain towns to keep their pets on-leash.

The three incidents occurred successive days this past week, in three different Colorado mountain towns. In all three, the people who were attacked were walking dogs when they encountered female moose.

On Friday, May 30, two women walking four dogs off-leash in the town of Fairplay came across a cow moose, which charged and stomped the women, who were able to escape without serious injury by climbing onto a roof. According to a press release from Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), a neighbor was later able to chase the moose away using a fire extinguisher.

The following day, in the community of Grand Lake, a man and woman walking their dog on a leash were also charged by a moose, which knocked the woman to the ground and attempted to stomp on her.

The man eventually grabbed a firearm and shot and killed the moose. “The moose was shot in self-defense while actively posing a threat to human health and safety,” CPW said in a release.

This moose was subsequently found to have been protecting a calf, which officials euthanized.  “The decision to euthanize the calf was not easy to make,” said the CPW’s area wildlife manager, Jeromy Huntington, in a release. “While rehabilitation can be successful in some cases, it’s not a guaranteed solution. In the case of this moose calf, 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 CPW release noted that “wildlife taken to a rehabilitation facility is primarily intended for the purpose of returning the wildlife to the wild,” and that legally, wildlife may not be held for more than one year.

Grand Lake has been the site of serious moose attacks in the past. In 2006, the town’s former mayor, Louis Heckert, suffered fatal head injuries after being attacked by a moose while walking to church.

A third moose attack occurred on Sunday, June 1, in Steamboat Springs. A woman was returning from a walk with two leashed dogs in River Creek Park, near the Steamboat Ski Resort, when she was attacked and trampled by a cow moose. The woman was saved by a passing paddleboarder, who was himself injured while scaring the moose away.

According to a local report, the paddleboarder was released with minor injuries, but the woman was in critical condition after the attack, and was later airlifted to a hospital in Denver. Investigating CPW officers later found a moose with twin calves in the area. They believe the moose was startled by the woman and her dog.

This moose and her calves were later relocated out of the park and outside city limits. “After monitoring the moose and her young over the last 48 hours, we determined they were very comfortable in the area and not going to move on their own,” Justin Pollock, assistant area wildlife manager, told The Steamboat Pilot & Today. “While this area is perfect habitat for moose, the risk not only to their safety in a populated area, but to the safety of people, was too high, which is why we chose to relocate them.”

Moose encounters in Colorado are fairly common, but historically attacks and injuries are rare, particularly inside city limits. CPW has reported only 22 injuries from moose attacks in the state since 2019. Most of these occur during calving season—from mid-May to early June—when cow moose are giving birth to their young, and behave more aggressively than normal. Another time of increased risk is the breeding season, late September through November. Bull moose often become more territorial and aggressive during this period.

CPW maintains a webpage, Living With Moose, offering advice for staying safe while recreating in moose habitat, particularly during calving season. Cow moose often hide their offspring to protect them from predators but remain nearby, so even if an adult moose appears to be alone, it could very well be protecting a calf out of sight. CPW recommends choosing a trail with good visibility, and making lots of noise when recreating through thick vegetation to avoid startling a moose.

Signs of moose aggression included laid back ears, raised hairs on the neck, a lowered or cocked head, swaying back and forth, licking of the snout, and rolling eyes and ears. But in general, if a moose has reacted to your presence, CPW says, you are too close. In the event of a charge, attempt to place obstacles, like trees or boulders, in between you and the moose.

Walking with dogs off-leash raises risks. The scent and appearance of a dog is often similar to that of wolves, one of the only natural predators of a moose. CPW’s release says “most moose conflicts involve dogs,” and recommends, particularly when hiking near riparian or willow habitats, where moose are often found, that all canines remain leashed.

“Off-leash dogs can venture off-trail, surprising hidden moose calves or cows. Cows will, in turn, chase retreating dogs, which can bring the moose in contact with humans,” the agency warns.

While many wild animal attacks occur as a result of human provocation and irresponsibility, CPW public information officer Rachel Gonzalez told The Steamboat Pilot that in some cases, a moose attack can simply be bad luck, and can occur even if an individual is following all recommendations.

“Things happen even when we follow all of the rules,” she said. “In places like Steamboat, it’s important to be extra vigilant when you’re recreating. Maybe that means keeping your dog on a shorter leash … maybe don’t walk or jog with headphones. I know we all want to listen to our favorite playlist, or that audio book we’ve been sucked into, but you are probably going to hear an animal before you ever see the animal. Moose are really big, but they can blend in so well.”