Mom Moose Assaults Man and His Canine Whereas Defending Calves

A Colorado couple’s canine needed to be euthanized after it was stomped on by a mom moose who was defending her two calves.

The incident occurred on the night of Monday, Could 26, on non-public property in Teller County close to Woodland Park, KRDO, KOAA and Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed. 

A person, whose title has not publicly been launched, was reportedly making an attempt to take his canines inside when the assault occurred. Because the mom moose barreled towards him, he hid underneath a close-by automobile.

Sadly, his canine companions had been trampled. One was euthanized as a result of accidents it sustained, whereas the opposite continues to be recovering. 

Simply at some point earlier than the encounter, a moose charged the person’s spouse, however she made it into their residence earlier than being injured. 

“This incident is a reminder of why we warn everybody to respect wildlife and provides them their area,” stated Travis Sauder, CPW Assistant Space Wildlife Supervisor. “We all know Colorado residents love their canines. However it’s necessary to know that moose see canines as predators and react in protection of themselves and their younger.”

He continued, “This cow moose was exhibiting traditional protecting conduct of its calves. Be sure you give wildlife additional area, particularly when they’re elevating their younger. And it’s all the time finest to maintain canines on leashes or in a fenced space to cut back the possibilities of an incident with wildlife.”

CPW estimates round 3,600 moose to be at the moment residing in Colorado, in comparison with 2,250 in 2013. 

Roughly two weeks earlier than the moose assault that led to the demise of the Teller County household’s canine, resident Paul Whitfield had his personal shut encounter with one of many animals at Manitou Lake.

“I went, ‘That’s a very tall horse,’” he stated in an on-camera interview with KRDO. “And it occurred to me that that is a moose.”

He was fishing when the younger moose got here into his territory.

“I believed, ‘I don’t have wherever to go,’” Whitfield stated, calling himself fortunate that the shut name was simply with a calf because the moms will be “protecting” and “aggressive.”

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“Moose – known as elk outdoors of North America – are the second largest land animal on the continent and Colorado’s largest huge sport animal,” per CPW. The animals can develop as much as 9 1⁄2 ft lengthy, be six ft tall on the shoulder, and weigh greater than 1,000 kilos. 

CPW spokesperson Joey Livingston shared some recommendations on how people and wildlife can coexist. 

“Usually, this primary week of June is once we begin seeing the infant deer on the bottom,” he stated. “And the deer will nonetheless defend their younger, identical to the moose this moose did. And so when you let your canines outdoors, attempt to go outdoors first and ensure there is not any deer, no fawns within the space.”