Moose continue to draw attention at Winter Park Resort in Colorado, with several videos popping up of the animals wandering around different areas of the mountain over the past few weeks. It seems very possible that most of the videos feature the same two moose who’ve made the mountain their home.
Colorado has a moose population of over 3,000, supported by an introduction effort that began in the 1970s. Today the population is one of the fastest growing in the lower 48 states. Unfortunately people still don’t seem to get the concept of giving wild animals space. Though no attacks have been reported at Winter Park, the skiers in this video filmed at the base of Mary Jane are pretty clearly getting too close to this moose. At the end of the video, it even sounds like someone is asking those nearby to give the moose some space.
Moose can run up to 35 miles per hour, much faster than a human, and females can be very protective of their young. If approached or caught of guard, cows can become quite dangerous. Read more on moose safety in Colorado below:
Colorado Parks & Wildlife Guide to Moose Aggression:
Signs of Aggression
- Laid back ears
- Raised hairs on the neck
- Lowered head
- Swaying back and forth
- Licking of the snout
- Cocking of the head
- Rolling eyes and ears back
- If a moose reacts to your presence, you are too close.
What do I do if a moose displays signs of aggression?
If a moose displays aggressive behavior or begins to charge, run as fast as you can and try to put a large object between you such as a boulder, car or tree. Avoid animals that are behaving belligerently or abnormally. Moose that exhibit dangerous behavior towards people should be reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
