Protective moose charges and tramples woman running on Colorado trail, officials say

A woman was looking at her feet as she ran along a Colorado trail.

When she looked up, she saw a moose that then charged toward her, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said. The moose trampled the runner.

The woman was on the Campion Trail near Breckenridge on Thursday, May 26, when the moose attacked, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.

“The runner was focused on the trail and looking down at her feet,” district wildlife manager Jacob Kay said in a news release. “When she looked up, she saw the moose, which immediately charged her and eventually trampled her.”

The woman, who officials did not publicly identify, had minor injuries. She was able to hike out of the trail and drive herself home, officials said.

As the runner was leaving the trail, she saw a newborn moose calf in the area.

“Given the details of the report, Kay says this incident is likely a cow protecting her newborn calf,” wildlife officials said. “This incident is a good reminder for people to give moose plenty of space when recreating outdoors.”

Moose attacks in Colorado are increasing, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They are protective animals and will defend their territory and young.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife knows of at least 15 moose conflicts since 2013 where people have been injured. Dogs were involved in almost all of those conflicts, wildlife officials said.

If someone encounters a moose, they should give it space to move, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. People shouldn’t try to haze a moose out of the way.

“Not only is it dangerous, but this is also considered harassment and is illegal,” officials said. “If a moose has laid-back ears, pawing the ground, licks its snout, or changes its direction to face you, you’re too close and need to back away.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Protective moose charges and tramples woman running on Colorado trail, officials say."