Moose Shot And Killed After Charging, Wounding 2 In Boulder County

NEDERLAND, CO — A moose was shot and killed Wednesday morning after authorities said it charged and injured two people in Boulder County, then repeatedly charged again as a deputy tried to help the wounded.

Authorities were called around 8 a.m. Wednesday for a report that someone was injured by a charging moose near the West Magnolia Trailhead, near Nederland, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. The trail is about 10 miles west of Boulder.

The moose charged at two people. A 31-year-old man suffered serious injuries and a female suffered minor injuries. Their dog was also hurt.

A Boulder County sheriff's deputy encountered the cow moose as he was searching for the wounded people, who were yelling for help. He tried to scare the animal by firing bean bags rounds at it, and the moose ran.

As the deputy was helping the injured people, the moose returned. The deputy fired a warning shot, and the moose ran off a second time.

But as the deputy and medics were moving the man to the trailhead, the moose returned a third time, and charged at people. The deputy fired his weapon, killing the moose, wildlife officials said.

Wildlife officers are investigating. This marks the third known moose attack on a person this year, following a May 25 attack in Breckenridge and a May 31 attack in Grand Lake. In both of the previous cases, the cow moose appeared to be defending nearby calves.

Wildlife officials said people can avoid run-ins with moose by staying away from thick willow habitat in riparian areas.