CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — A scary encounter Saturday between a bull moose and an individual in Clear Creek County could have ended a lot worse than it did.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) shared a video on Sunday of an individual who came across a bull moose walking along a willow bottom toward a lake. The person decided to shoot some video, and the moose seemed fine with this -- until it wasn't.
In a matter of a second or two, the moose went from a standstill behind a tree to charging straight at the camera and the person holding it.
The individual was able to get behind a tree, which the moose then hit, and the person got out of the encounter without injuries.
Afterward, the person walked away and out of the area, a CPW spokesman said. He said the encounter appeared to be random, which can happen in moose habitat, and luckily no one got hurt.
CPW says on its website that encounters between moose and people are common and moose cause few problems. But injuries can happen. CPW says it's aware of least 15 moose conflicts since 2013 that resulted in injuries.
The agency offers tips on its website on how to have a safe encounter with a moose:
- Avoid animals that are behaving belligerently or abnormally.
- Keep pets away. Moose can get aggressive around them. Be especially cautious when walking dogs.
- When watching moose, never approach too closely. Watch and photograph from a safe distance.
- Move slowly and don't move directly at a moose. Back off if they show signs of aggression like the hair on their neck standing up, licking their snout, cocking their head, and rolling their eyes and ears back.
- If a moose displays aggressive behavior or begins to charge, run as fast as you can and try to put a large object between you, such as a boulder, car or tree.
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