People keep taking selfies with moose in Colorado town. Cops are begging them to stop

At least three people have been attacked by moose in Colorado this summer — but people still try to take selfies with them.

Police in one town in the state are begging people to stop.

“Please keep a safe distance (further than you would think is safe) if you encounter the moose,” the Erie Police Department said on Facebook. “Please, please, please stop trying to take selfies with wildlife.”

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

This summer, at least three people have been attacked by moose.

On Wednesday, June 8, a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a moose after it attacked two people and a dog. A 31-year-old man was left with serious injuries from the attack, McClatchy News reported.

A woman was also trampled by a moose on Thursday, May 26, while she was running on a trail near Breckenridge, officials 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.”

If someone encounters a moose, they should give it space to leave, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. People shouldn’t try to haze a moose to move 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 June 9, 2022 at 10:44 AM with the headline "People keep taking selfies with moose in Colorado town. Cops are begging them to stop."