Enraged moose charges, headbutts and tramples a female dog walker who surprised the animal on a Rocky Mountain trail in Colorado
Enraged moose attacks, headbutts and tramples a female dog walker who surprised the animal on a Rocky Mountain trail in Colorado
- A woman walking her dog on a wooded trail in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains on Wednesday startled a cow moose and it attacked
A cow moose remains at large in the Colorado wilderness after attacking a woman walking her dog along a hiking trail.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, the woman was with her dog when she happened upon the moose. The animal headbutted her and stomped on her, authorities said.
She made her way to a nearby home where the homeowner called the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was rushed to a local hospital where she is recovering from her injuries. The dog was on a leash at the time of the attack and suffered minor injuries.
Officials are still searching for the moose and have posted signs in the area where the attack occurred along the South St. Vrain Trail, north of the small town of Ward, close to Boulder.
One warning reminds hikers that elk may view dogs as a threat.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, the woman was with her dog when she happened upon the moose
Cow elk are fiercely protective of their young
The warning reads: ‘Elk may view dogs as a threat, and CPW encourages dog owners to keep them on a leash at all times to avoid confrontations. Cow elk can become particularly aggressive when their calf is nearby.”
Conservationists have said there has been a significant increase in the moose population in the Ward area in recent years, reports USA today.
Colorado’s population has increased by more than 1,000 to 3,500 in the past decade.
The moose attack occurred just west of Boulder and was the third in Boulder County this year, said Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She added that fatal encounters are rare.
According to Van Hoose, the animals are often aggressive towards dogs, which they experience as a threat. They also become more aggressive during the mating season – called the rut – which is just beginning in Colorado.
“If a moose thinks a dog is a threat, it will respond, and that’s normal for a moose,” she said.
Conservationists were unable to find the moose, but posted signs warning hikers about the potentially aggressive animal. It will likely be difficult to find the exact moose that attacked without DNA, Van Hoose said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife warned hikers to keep their pets on a leash and to be on the lookout for the animals, especially near water or in willow trees. If a moose is spotted, officials say, people should keep their distance.