Moose attacks man who found woman on ground after earlier attack, CO officials say

Three separate moose attacks have officials urging the public to be wary of mama moose while doing outside activities, Colorado officials said.

On May 30, a pair of women were walking four dogs off-leash when they saw a moose in Fairplay, according to a news release by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The moose ended up trampling the women multiple times before they were able to escape by climbing onto a nearby roof, officials said.

A neighbor used a fire extinguisher to shoo the moose away and neither woman wanted medical attention, officials said.

Officers weren’t able to identify the moose involved in the attack so ”no further action was taken,” officials said.

On May 31, a couple was returning from a dog walk in Grand Lake when a mama moose charged them, eventually knocking the woman to the ground, officials said.

She was able to crawl under a small storage area by her home but the moose continued trying to stomp her. After the aggressive animal showed no signs of leaving, the woman’s boyfriend fatally shot it, officials said.

The woman received medical attention for the injuries she sustained to her face and upper body, officials said.

The boyfriend was not fined by officers as the shooting was deemed self-defense, officials said.

Officers think the moose was protecting its nearby baby and, after finding the calf, it was humanely euthanized, officials said.

“The decision to euthanize the calf was not easy to make,” Hot Sulphur Springs Area Wildlife Manager Jeromy Huntington said in the 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.”

On June 1, a dog owner was walking her two pets in Steamboat Springs when she was attacked by a mama moose, officials said.

A nearby paddleboarder found her on the ground after the attack and was eventually kicked when the moose returned, officials said.

The woman was transported to the hospital for serious injuries and the man was evaluated at the scene, officials said.

Most moose attacks involve dogs so it’s important to keep pets on leash to “avoid startling moose near a trail,” officials said.

Mama moose are especially aggressive during calving season, which falls in late spring and early summer, causing them to be protective of their babies, officials said.

What to know about moose

Moose are protective animals and will “defend themselves if they perceive a threat,” according to the National Park Service.

If someone encounters a moose, they should give it space to leave, wildlife officials said. People shouldn’t try to haze a moose to move out of the way.

“Don’t be aggressive,” the National Park Service said. “You want to convince the moose that you aren’t a threat.”

Wildlife officials said people should do the following if you see a moose:

• Stay undetected if the moose hasn’t spotted you.

• Talk softly and move slowly.

• If the moose charges, take cover and put something between you and the moose or run away.

This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 12:39 PM with the headline "Moose attacks man who found woman on ground after earlier attack, CO officials say."