Glenwood Springs woman hospitalized with serious injuries after moose attack
A 79-year-old woman was attacked by a cow moose and severely injured last Friday night outside a rural home south of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.
According to a Wednesday news release from CPW, the woman was taken to a local hospital and then transported by helicopter to another hospital on the Front Range due to the extent of her injuries.
The woman said she was dog-sitting for someone at the house, and had seen a mother moose and its two calves in the yard earlier in the day.
When she went to take the dog out in the yard on a leash about 9 p.m. that night, she said the moose came from out of her sight and attacked her. Another resident of the house observed the cow stomping on the woman, according to the release.
Area Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita said moose frequent the area year-round, and the cow and its two calves had been reported in the area for some time.
“This incident was no fault of her own,” Yamashita said in the release. “Conflicts with moose can happen, even when you follow best practices for living in moose habitat.”
He said there had been no previous aggressive behavior exhibited by that or any other moose in the area.
Wildlife officers searched the area Saturday, Sunday and into Monday, but couldn’t identify the offending moose, Yamashita said.
Neighbors said multiple sets of cows with calves have been in the area, making it challenging to locate the animal involved in the attack. Wildlife officers have since discontinued the search unless new information comes forward, according to the release.
“This likely was an incident of a cow protecting her calves,” Yamashita said. “Since Friday night we have been talking with the local residents to educate them about living in moose habitat, the potential dangers associated with interacting with moose and actions they can take to minimize the risk of conflict.”
The release also noted that on Aug. 7, a man walking along a willow bottom heading towards a lake in Clear Creek County was charged by a bull moose. A video of the incident showed just how quickly a moose can decide to charge a person, the release stated.
Fortunately, the man came away uninjured, as he was able to dive behind a tree.
On May 29 in Steamboat Springs, another man was knocked over on his back and stomped by a cow moose with two calves, the release also states. The victim said his small dog was outside unleashed when he heard the moose and started barking. The man stepped forward to grab the dog and the moose charged. He was treated for minor injuries.
To learn more about living with moose, visit CPW’s website here.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.