A moose attacked a man walking his dogs Monday morning in Coal Creek Canyon west of Denver.
The man, in his late 50s, told Colorado Parks and Wildlife that he surprised a cow moose and her calf around a hairpin turn in a trail near Hummingbird Lane, the state agency said in a news release.
“The moose charged and knocked the man down, stomping him several times,” wildlife officials stated in the release. The man, who was armed, fired two shots into the ground, scaring away the large mammal. The moose were not hit.
The dog-walker was transported to the hospital with injuries not expected to be life-threatening.
Cow moose can be aggressive during late spring and early summer while their calves are young, CPW says. Wildlife officials urged dog owners to keep their pets leashed while hiking and give moose extra space on trails.
