Beware of wildlife: Colorado calving season brings "unprecedented" attacks
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A moose and her two young calves nibble on branches near the White River National Forest in Breckenridge. Photo: Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Colorado moose, elk and deer are charging into calving season with fury this year.
Why it matters: Wildlife officials are warning of "unprecedented," aggressive and unprovoked attacks on people that are leading to serious injuries.
What they're saying: It's typical for female elk, moose and deer to be highly protective over their young, but "what's uncommon about what we're seeing this year is the actual physical contact" with people, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Kara Van Hoose tells us.
- It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's driving the trend, she says, but as more people and developments encroach on these animals' natural habitats, more run-ins are happening.
The latest: Three cow elk stompings in two weeks have been recorded in Estes Park, including on an 8-year-old girl riding her bike and another on a 4-year-old boy on a playground. No evidence suggests the attacks were from the same animal, officials say.
- Meanwhile, two separate moose attacks were recorded this month in Winter Park, Sky-Hi News reports. On June 2, a cow moose with her calf chased down a man walking his two dogs, kicking and stomping all three of them.
- The next day, what's believed to be the same moose attacked a trail runner, causing serious head and chest injuries.
Also this month, a doe protecting a nearby fawn was fatally shot in El Paso County after charging a pregnant woman and stomping two dogs, the Colorado Sun reports.
- State wildlife officials tell us killing the doe was justified because it posed a threat to human life. Her fawn was taken to a rehab center for eventual release into the wild.
Threat level: Wildlife officers have been monitoring active areas and putting up warning signs where aggressive elk and moose have been sighted, Van Hoose says.
- Officials encourage people to report all aggressive encounters, including non-physical ones, to a regional CPW office closest to the occurrence.
By the numbers: CPW only formally tracks moose attacks, which peaked in 2022 with six incidents, but Van Hoose says the agency may consider recording elk encounters in the future.
The bottom line: Outdoor recreationists are encouraged to stay on guard through early July as calving season continues.
Here are top tips to help keep you and wildlife safe this season:
- Leave young wildlife alone. Adult animals often leave their newborns to forage for food. Plus, baby mammals are born scentless so predators can't find them, and touching them can remove their scentless armor and cause them to be abandoned by their parents.
- Keep your dogs on a leash because elk, moose and deer view them as predators and will act accordingly.
- Don't turn your back to aggressive wildlife. Back away and try to put an object between you and the animal, like a tree, rock or car.