IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. — A Florida tourist’s inaugural mountain hike turned into an unforgettable wilderness encounter when a massive moose interrupted her trek in the Colorado high country.
Carleigh Smith was visiting the Denver area from Florida with friends to attend an Olivia Dean concert. Taking advantage of the mountain scenery, the group headed to St. Mary’s Glacier near Idaho Springs for Smith’s first ever Colorado hike.
While Smith is accustomed to coastal Florida wildlife like alligators, dolphins, and manatees, encountering a high-altitude giant proved to be a far more tense experience.
The unexpected encounter began when a fellow hiker casually alerted Smith’s group to a moose standing directly along the trail ahead. Realizing the danger, the group utilized the “rule of thumb” safety measure, holding out a thumb to see if it covers the entire animal to gauge a safe distance. Smith’s thumb barely covered the moose and she knew they were way too close.
After Smith and her friends moved to a safer vantage point, the moose waded into the glacier lake to cool off, briefly trapping a group of hikers who were sitting on a rock in the middle of the water. Those hikers were eventually able to slip away safely without disturbing the animal.
Colorado Moose Safety Guidelines:
Unlike most bears and mountain lions, moose are generally unafraid of people. If they feel threatened, or especially if a cow moose has calves with her, they will charge and attack. They can run up to 35 mile per hour and weigh up to 1200 pounds, so the damage they can inflict is not to be underestimated.
Obviously, the most important first step to keep you and your dog safe from moose is to keep your distance and keep dogs leashed. Should you end up too close to a moose, watch for signs of aggression – snorting, raised hackles and pinned ears. While experts recommend backing slowly away from most wildlife, a moose encounter is different; you should get away as quickly as you can. If possible, put a large object such as a tree, car, snowmobile or ATV between you and the moose. Never feed moose, or any other wildlife
