Overview
- A person walking two leashed dogs near Little Vasquez Road was knocked down, kicked several times by a female moose protecting a yearling, released the dogs, and was taken by ambulance to a hospital with serious chest and arm injuries.
- Wildlife officers returned to the area but were unable to locate the cow moose and yearling, and CPW posted warning signs at the trailhead to alert other hikers.
- CPW described the attack as defensive behavior and said people should give moose space, avoid approaching or chasing them, and report any encounters to the local CPW office after the danger has passed.
- The agency urged practical precautions for reducing encounters, including keeping dogs on leashes, choosing routes with clear visibility, making noise near thick vegetation and willows, and seeking shelter behind large objects if charged.
- Because cow moose give birth in late spring and early summer and often use areas with water and dense willows, CPW warned that calving season raises the risk of similar defensive attacks and could change how people plan and use nearby trails.