Man rolls under car to escape attacking moose — and sees dogs get trampled in CO
An angry mama moose chased a man down as he was letting his dogs back inside in Colorado, wildlife officials said.
The moose knocked him to the ground, so he rolled under a car to escape the attack — and then saw the moose stomp on his dogs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in an emailed news release May 28.
One of the dogs had to be euthanized due to its injuries, while the other is still being monitored, the agency said.
It happened Monday, May 26, on private property near South Meadows Campground, north of Woodland Park, about a 25-mile drive northwest from Colorado Springs, officials said.
The moose had charged at the man’s wife the day before, but she escaped inside the home, officials said.
Wildlife officials tried to sedate and relocate the moose and her calves because of how close the attack occurred to crowded areas, but the moose moved into “better and more remote moose habitat” on her own, the agency said.
Wildlife officials posted signs warning that a possibly dangerous moose might be in the area.
“This incident is a reminder of why we warn everyone to respect wildlife and give them their space,” said Travis Sauder, assistant area wildlife manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “We know Colorado residents love their dogs. But it’s important to understand that moose see dogs as predators and react in defense of themselves and their young.
“This cow moose was exhibiting classic protective behavior of its calves,” Sauder said. “Be sure to give wildlife extra space, especially when they are raising their young. And it is always best to keep dogs on leashes or in a fenced area to reduce the chances of an incident with wildlife.”
Run-ins could become more common as Colorado moose populations grow, especially in Teller County, where the attack occurred, officials said. Officials estimate there’s currently about 3,600 moose in the state compared to 2,250 in 2013.
“With more people moving into Colorado and a growing moose population, it’s becoming especially important to take precautions when recreating or living in mountainous areas of the state,” officials said.
Precautions include avoiding “thick willow habitat in riparian areas where they are likely to be found eating or resting,” Sauder said in the release. Moose calves are born in a three- to four-week window from the end of May to mid-June and will often lie in the willows while mom is off grazing. Calves stay with their mothers through fall.
Anyone photographing or observing wildlife should keep a safe distance, especially during calving season.
“Called the ‘rule of thumb’, if you can cover the entire wild animal with your thumb you’re generally at a safe distance,” officials said. “If the animal looks larger than your thumb, you are too close and need to back away slowly. If the animal changes its behavior at all — looks toward you, tucks its ears, makes noises, stomps on the ground, etc., then you are too close and need to back away slowly.”
That’s why it’s so important not to feed wildlife, so animals don’t associate people with food and approach them looking for it, officials said.
Around the home, dog and pet owners should keep pets on a leash or in a fenced-in area. If that isn’t possible, officials recommend canvassing the area before letting dogs out and staying outside with them to watch for wildlife.
“Understand that a pet left outside, unsecured and unobserved, may be in danger from moose, bears, and mountain lions as well as foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and even raptors like owls, hawks and eagles,” officials said.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Man rolls under car to escape attacking moose — and sees dogs get trampled in CO."
