Seen Any Moose Around Here Lately?

Have you seen a moose in our Open Space parks yet? If you haven’t, you may soon. Moose, which was a rarity in Colorado only 50 years ago, are now routinely sighted in Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties since their introduction in 1978 — transplants from Utah and Wyoming. The transplants have delighted in their new home state. According to biologists from Colorado Parks & Wildlife, there are an estimated 3500 moose roaming the Rockies between Red Feather Lakes and Pagosa Springs.

According to Jeffco Open Space Natural Resources Senior Specialist Andrew Dubois, ” “Moose have been reported in the Coal Creek Canyon Study Area, White Ranch Park, Centennial Cone Park, Clear Creek Canyon Park, Elk Meadow Park, Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, Flying J Ranch Park, Meyer Ranch Park, and Beaver Ranch Park.”

Moose are the largest of the deer family. The type found in Colorado is the Shiras Moose, the smallest of the four North American subspecies. A typical adult Shiras Moose can measure 6 feet at the shoulder and weigh in at 800 to 1000 pounds. Armed with hollow fur that provides both insulation and buoyancy, and nostrils that can close, moose can dive up to 20 feet and swim at speeds close to 6 mph. They can be found frequenting the icy waters of high-altitude streams, lakes and fens.  Colorado moose have also been sighted in what many consider non-traditional habitats, such as upland shrub and Gambel oak country, which explains why they’ve been seen in our Open Space parks.

As a frequent visitor to our Open Space parks, when you take Fido with you into the parks, Fido has to be leashed. There are many reasons for this rule, the least of which are rattlesnakes, ticks, and other dogs. Add to the list an angry moose. Moose are not afraid of humans, and, while they are not known to be aggressive, they do not have a gentle temperament, especially during the spring calving and the fall mating seasons. A moose cow can be terrifying when defending her young, even facing down and driving off a grizzly bear.  And nothing angers a moose more than a dog, which resembles one of the moose’s primary predators, the wolf.  “In Alaska, up to 10 people are killed every year by irritated moose, and moose injure more people than any other wild animal in the Americas” — that’s North and South America, combined, according to Stephen Knapp’s article, “Moosin’ Around”.

Download a PDF of the Colorado Serenity magazine feature report, “Moosin’ Around” by Stephen Knapp, here.

Should you encounter a moose while hiking in our Open Space parks, never attempt to approach it. Admire from a distance and keep your dog on lead, close to you. If the dog starts challenging the moose, move away as quietly as you can. If you’re charged, run. A moose can run as fast as 35 mph, so if you can, position yourself with a tree or a big rock between you and the moose.

You can help out by reporting any moose (or bear, or rattlesnake, or mountain lion, or…) on the JCOS Human-Wildlife Interaction page, https://www.jeffco.us/3620/Human-Wildlife-Interactions. Moose are included on the ‘Animal Involved’ drop-down list. Recording interactions with this magnificent animal will help JCOS track and protect both residents of the parks and visitors to the parks. Thank you.

Addendum: What to do if you encounter a moose on the trail, as shared by Kevin Schlosser, Shadow Mountain resident

“I wanted to give folks an education about something that can be really dangerous. Several people have posted about Moose sightings and I want to address the dangers of Moose, specifically for those who are out walking their dog.

If you see a Moose while you are walking your dog DO NOT walk in the direction of the Moose. DO NOT turn your back to the Moose. walk backwards away from it very slow like.. If you see the Moose coming towards you let go of the dog leash, and walk away from the dog.

Dogs are the natural enemy of a Moose specifically Coyote. The Moose doesn’t separate the 2 if it sees a dog there is a high probability of it attacking. Both you and the dog have a much better chance of survival if you are not tethered to each other.

You are not abandoning you pup if you do this, you are giving him/her better odds. Moose are no joke, don’t take their presence lightly with or without a dog. Anything can set them off and the last thing you want to be is the target. They can be extremely aggressive and even more so if they feel threatened in any way. It could be perfume or cologne that sets them off if they find it offensive in some way.

Take pictures from a very far distance where you would be able to seek shelter should one come in your direction. They can run upwards of 35MPH so they will close the gap really fast, keep that in mind.”