DENVER (KDVR) — While wildlife in Colorado's mountains is common, seeing three moose sparring in one backyard is not such a common sight.
Angie Grenfell captured the moment in her backyard in the Strawberry Park area, near the foot of Buffalo Pass in Routt County. She told FOX31 she took the video in her backyard and said the moose come around pretty often.
"We see them so much up here in the Steamboat, but it is a bit frightening sometimes since they are moose," said Grenfell.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife warns that while moose may appear friendly or docile, they can be dangerous to wildlife watchers who don't keep ample space. Moose can move at speeds of up to 35 mph, according to CPW, and will likely stand their ground and charge when threatened or feeling threatened.
They can weigh over 1,000 pounds when fully grown, according to CPW, and bulls can be up to six feet tall at the shoulder and over nine feet long. The size of the moose in Routt County was illustrated by the snow under their feet: Steamboat has received over 10 inches of snow in the past two days, and the snow only comes up to just above the moose knees.
In the fall, moose enter their mating season, according to CPW. This can lead to aggressive, territorial bulls as they try to defend their territory. Moose, when showing aggression, show many signs including:
- Laid back ears
- Hairs raised on the neck
- A lowered head
- Swaying back and forth
- Cocking of the head
"If a moose reacts to your presence, you are too close," CPW states on its website. The department noted that moose have "few natural enemies," and do not fear humans. Moose have been known to "tree" people who have gotten too close, kill or injure pets, and chase people from defended territories.
"Caution and common sense go a long way in preventing problems with moose," CPW's website states.
According to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, moose don't hibernate and instead spend the winter foraging and roaming their habitats.
Moose are not commonly found in large herds but instead are found in small groups or alone, according to CPW. While the species is less abundant than elk or deer species in Colorado, the state's moose population has grown over the past few decades. CPW said that it transplanted 24 moose from Utah and Wyoming to Colorado's North Park region near Walde in 1978, and since then, moose populations have grown to over 2,300 across Colorado.