Encounters between the approximately 3,000 elk that live in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Estes Park area and more than 4 million tourists who visit the park annually are inevitable.
But Colorado wildlife officials are calling the third attack of a person by an elk in Estes Park in eight days “unprecedented.”
The latest attack occurred Friday morning (June 7) when a moose attacked an adult woman walking her dog on a leash near South St. Vrain Avenue and Stanley Avenue, according to a new release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The woman apparently scared off a moose and her calf, which was later spotted nearby. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the elk attacked the woman about 20 yards away. The woman tried to run behind a tree for safety, but the moose knocked her to the ground, stomped on her and kicked her several times.
The woman received medical treatment for her injuries, according to the news release.
“Elk with young calves are known for being aggressive, however, we have never seen a year like this,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife area wildlife manager Jason Duetsch said in a news release. “All three attacks were unprovoked and unfortunate accidents. We have no clear evidence to suggest these attacks were by the same animal, which highlights how unusual the elk’s behavior has been.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Kara Van Hoose told the Coloradoan after the first attack that wildlife is not euthanized when it shows common or natural behavior, like a mother elk protecting her calf.
The first two cow-moose attacks involved children trampling elk. This occurred on May 30th and June 3rd.
The latest two attacks occurred just blocks away south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 36 and Colorado Highway 7. It was not reported where the first attack occurred.
The state wildlife agency is warning residents and tourists visiting Estes Park, the gateway to the popular Rocky Mountain National Park, to be extremely cautious outdoors until the end of elk calving season, which is usually in early summer for elk and moose.
The number of attacks on humans by elk in Colorado was not available.
However, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, from 1990 to 2023, there have been 88 black bear attacks on humans, three of which were fatal, and 28 mountain lion attacks on humans, three of which were fatal.
Since 2006, there have been 21 moose attacks on humans, with one fatal attack, and almost all occurred with a dog or dogs present.
This article originally appeared in the Fort Collins Coloradoan: Moose attacks in Estes Park: Third attack reported in Colorado city in 8 days
