Two people have been attacked by moose in Colorado in just two days. On June 3, a jogger suffered severe head and chest injuries on the Forest Trail in Winter Park when a female attacked. This incident occurred just a day after a second man took to Instagram to describe a female moose kicking him and his dogs after they had unintentionally startled her.
He explained that the moose chased them through a residential area and “proceeded to kick and stomp all three of us.” The Instagram poster described the encounter as one of the most frightening events he had experienced in decades, particularly as he was forced to push the animal away from his dogs.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Agency has encouraged people to be aware of their surroundings in moose habitats. The agency explained that the animals are not usually hostile to humans but can become aggressive if they feel their young are threatened.
The moose attacks occurred alongside unprecedented incidents involving elk in the Centennial State. A woman walking her dog in Estes Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park, reported startling a female with its calf. She tried to run to flee the animal but was knocked to the ground and kicked several times.
Days later, a young boy was similarly stomped while playing in the same area. An 8-year-old girl was injured under comparable circumstances the same week, and both children required hospital treatment.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife manager Jason Deutsch said, “We’ve never seen a year like this,” adding that there was no evidence to suggest the same animal carried out the attacks.
Experts say that moose attack more humans than bears, and they do so for various reasons, but most commonly during mating season and to protect their newborns. When hungry, moose often go to residential areas to find food, and their contact with humans has increased as habitats have become more intertwined. The US moose population is around 300,000.
