A pair of moose were spotted cooling off in a sprinkler by a chairlift at Colorado’s Beaver Creek. Moose are becoming a fairly common sight across the state as their populations continue to grow, and they’re often spotted in clear mountainous areas like ski resorts.
There are more than 3,000 moose living across the state of Colorado. They’re known to use shady spots with good circulation or water to cool off in high temperatures. Unlike shady areas, water can help provide relief from insects as well as the heat. Read more facts on Colorado moose below.
Colorado Moose Facts:
- Historical records dating back to the 1850s indicate that a stable breeding population of moose wasn’t established in Colorado.
- Wildlife officials first considered bringing moose into the state in the 1960s.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife transplanted 24 moose from Utah and Wyoming into Colorado in 1978.
- Between 1991 and 1993, 93 moose from Wyoming, Utah and North Park, Colorado, were brought to the Upper Rio Grande River Valley in Mineral and Hinsdale Counties.
- A breeding population of about 2,300 moose had been established in Colorado by 2012
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Moose Safety Guidelines:
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.
