A WOMAN walking her canine within the Colorado Rocky Mountains has been brutally attacked by a cow moose.
The cow moose reportedly headbutted and stomped on her, earlier than she and her canine have been capable of escape.
The attack occurred on the South St. Vrain Trail close to Boulder, Colorado on September 20, in line with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The girl and her canine have been on a wooded space of a path when the shock attack occurred.
“The cow moose charged the girl, headbutting and stomping on her a number of occasions,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife mentioned in a press launch.
“She was capable of walk to a close-by neighbor’s home, the place they referred to as Boulder County deputies.”
The girl was transported to an area hospital, nonetheless, no data was launched on her situation.
The canine sustained minor accidents within the attack, per wildlife officers.
It was on a leash throughout the attack, in line with a neighbor.
Wildlife officers looked for the moose after the attack, nonetheless, they have been unable to seek out it.
After the attack occurred, officers put a number of indicators up warning hikers of doubtless aggressive moose within the space.
One signal says: “Do no method wildlife. Moose in space,” together with a warning to pet house owners that claims: “Leash your pets.”
A second signal says: “ATTENTION Cow moose with calves energetic in space. They will aggressively defend calves from folks and dogs.”
Officials have warned the general public – particularly anybody climbing with pets – to concentrate on their environment always.
“When climbing in riparian habitats, hikers ought to be conscious moose could also be within the space resting or consuming,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife mentioned in a press launch.
“Moose can understand dogs as a menace, and CPW encourages canine house owners to maintain them on-leash always to keep away from confrontations.
“Cow moose can turn into significantly aggressive when their calf is close by.”
Moose are the biggest wild mammal in Colorado, in line with Elissa Slezakdistrict wildlife supervisor for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
They can weigh as much as 1,000 kilos and may tower six ft excessive on the shoulder.
Slezak says they’re comparatively unafraid of people and may pose an enormous threat to public security.
“Each yr, extra individuals are attacked by moose than by every other species of wildlife,” Slezak mentioned in a YouTube video shared by wildlife officers.
This was the third moose attack in Boulder County this yr.
Fatal assaults are uncommon however doable.
The moose inhabitants in Colorado has elevated over the years.