4-year-old boy attacked by moose at Colorado playground, days after girl injured in similar incident

The playground incident is the second moose attack on a child in Estes Park in less than a week

A four-year-old boy was attacked by a moose at a playground in Estes Park, less than a week after a similar incident involving an eight-year-old girl occurred in the area.

On Monday, June 3, a doe elk – or female elk – attacked and trampled the young boy as he was playing at a local playground in Estes Park, Colorado, around 1:30 p.m., Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) said in a statement on Tuesday, June 4.

Two moose calves had been hiding near a playground in Stanley Park, unbeknownst to several families using the facility, when an adult moose suddenly attacked the 4-year-old, kicking him multiple times before a family member could scare the animal away, CPW said in a statement. The boy was taken to hospital for treatment and released later that night.

Since the incident, the playground has been closed indefinitely and portions of the Lake Estes Loop trail are also closed.

Just three days earlier, on Friday, May 31, an 8-year-old girl was riding her bike in Estes Park when a cow moose attacked her from 55 yards away, chased her and trampled on her several times, CPW said in a separate news release last week. She was also taken to the hospital and released the same day.

Following the incident, wildlife officers found a moose calf in the area, and an adult female moose reacted aggressively toward the officer at the scene where the young calf was discovered, CPW said.

An official helped transport the calf to the CPW Health Lab on Friday, “where veterinarians and wildlife experts will care for the newborn,” the statement said.

After both incidents, the adult moose were harassed with “non-lethal beanbag bullets” to drive them away from public areas, the agency said in a statement.

Kara Van Hoose, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told Coloradoan that the mother moose that attacked the girl was not euthanized because she allegedly “exhibited the usual behavior of a mother moose protecting her calf.”

“This is an unusual and unfortunate situation where a young girl was playing outside far away from her calf and a female elk became aggressive in an attempt to protect her newborn,” said Jason Duetsch, area wildlife manager for CPW, in last week’s news release. “We are glad the girl is recovering from her injuries and wish her continued speedy recovery.”

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CPW is now warning local residents and visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park of possible moose attacks as calving season is still ongoing. According to the agency, calving season in Colorado occurs from late spring to early summer, and female moose can become aggressive when defending their young because they are immobile.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation states that cow elk weigh about 500 pounds and stand about 4.5 feet tall. According to CPW, Colorado has one of the largest elk populations in the world, with over 280,000 animals, some of which are hunted for herd health and population control.

The City of Estes Park stated on its website that while it is not uncommon for moose to become “irritable and highly protective” during various seasons, including calving season, many wildlife incidents are the result of people getting too close to the moose or driving up to them to observe them.

Related: Rhode Island hiker kills rabid coyote with bare hands after being bitten in the leg during attack

The National Park Service (NPS) recommends on its website that anyone who encounters an elk or other wapiti apply the “rule of thumb.”

“When observing wildlife, extend your arm fully, close one eye, and try to conceal the animal with your thumb. If you can still see the animal, you are too close,” the NPS explained on its website. “Take a few steps back until the animal is completely concealed.”

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The NPS also recommends on its website that people should “back away and maintain a safe distance” when approaching a wild animal. The recommended distance people should keep between themselves and wildlife is 75 feet, or the length of two buses.

Additionally, pets should be kept on a leash in areas where moose are active, the city of Estes Park said on its website.

“If a wild animal changes its behavior because of your presence, you are too close,” the NPS website states.

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