An 8-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were attacked and injured by a moose four days apart in a northern Colorado town.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials are warning residents and visitors to Estes Park, in the foothills of Rocky Mountain National Park, to be on the lookout for an aggressive female moose that has attacked children on multiple occasions.
Authorities said in a press release on May 31 that the girl was riding her bike in her neighborhood when a female moose charged toward her from about 60 yards away.
Authorities said the large mammal quickly caught up with the girl and stomped her “multiple times.”
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A small herd of moose. (National Park Service)
The girl was taken to a hospital and has since been released, according to CPW.
While investigating the incident, wildlife officials said they responded to the scene of the attack and found a female moose and a young moose.
According to the release, the female moose became aggressive toward wildlife officers, who fired “non-lethal bean bag rounds” at the moose to get it to leave the park.
“This is an unusual and unfortunate situation in which a young girl was playing outside far from her calf and a female moose became aggressive in an attempt to protect her newborn calf,” said CPW Regional Wildlife Manager Jason Dutche. “It is a natural reaction for female moose to become defensive during the birthing season, but it is rare for a female moose to harm a person, especially a calf. We are pleased that the girl is recovering from her injuries and hope she continues to recover.”
Signs have been posted in Colorado parks warning people about a female moose that has been attacked twice in quick succession. (Colorado State Parks and Wildlife Areas)
Just four days later, a four-year-old boy was attacked by another aggressive moose.
At around 1:30 p.m. on June 4, the boy was in a playground near Stanley Park when a female moose “suddenly attacked and stomped him multiple times.”
According to the release, two calves of moose were hiding near where the boy had been playing.
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The female moose was chased away by the family, but the boy was taken to hospital and later released.
CPW officers responded to the scene after the incident and found multiple female moose in the area.
Officers “used non-lethal bean bag rounds to scare the moose away from the park.”
A male moose watches over a herd of female moose in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zarbowski, File)
Following the two attacks, the park closed the Lake Estes Loop Trail and park officials installed signs warning people of the presence of an aggressive female moose in the area.
CPW said while newborn fawns are immobile, female moose can become aggressive towards what they perceive as a threat.
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“When playing outdoors, people are urged to be aware that calves may be hiding nearby,” they say. “Female moose can charge you from just a few metres away. Please obey trail closures and signs warning of aggressive moose and never disturb them. YeahEven if a young wild animal appears to be alone, its mother is likely nearby foraging for food.”
