Two children and a woman with a dog were attacked by crazy moose in separate incidents in a Colorado park

US News

From Jorge Fitz-Gibbon

Oh, deer!

Colorado Department of Conservation officials are warning residents to walk if they see an angry moose in a Centennial State Park after three recent attacks on two young children, a woman and her dog by the crazed animals.

Because of the kicking attacks, the two young visitors to the popular recreational location in the city of Estes Park had to be hospitalized – and the woman required medical treatment, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a press release on Friday.

“Elk with young calves are notoriously aggressive, but we have never seen a year like this,” Wildlife Manager Jason Duetsch said in a statement. “All three attacks were unprovoked and unfortunate accidents.”

“We have no clear evidence that these attacks came from the same animal, which underscores how unusual this moose behavior is,” he added.

Officials say the attacks were likely carried out by moose mothers protecting their young living nearby.

In the most recent attack on Friday, the woman was walking her dog on a leash when she startled a female moose from about 20 meters away – which then ran towards her and her frightened cub.

The woman tried to duck behind a tree, but was thrown to the ground by the animal and kicked several times, so she had to seek medical treatment, the park administration said.

Last Monday, a 4-year-old boy was playing in the park’s playground near two cow moose hiding behind a rock. One of the cows attacked the child and trampled on him before the animal was chased away by shocked relatives and passersby, the Denver Gazette reported.

On May 30, an 8-year-old girl was riding her bike when a moose charged at her from about 55 meters away, knocking the girl over and sending her to the hospital, the newspaper reported.

All three victims suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said.

“The best way to prevent a moose attack is to keep your distance,” park officials said. “If a moose appears to have excessive interest in you or displays aggressive behavior, leave the scene immediately.”

“It is also beneficial to keep a close eye on your surroundings,” the statement said. “Moose tend to go unnoticed in rocky, shady or wooded areas.”

Meanwhile, a Colorado Springs man shot and killed a deer Friday night after the animal attacked several dogs and a pregnant woman in the city, CBS News reported in a report.