WILSON, Wyo. — Moose activity has been ramping up this fall, and residents of the Aspens neighborhood on the West Bank are on high alert following an incident that left an unidentified woman injured.
Buckrail has received multiple reports of an Aspens resident getting injured in a run-in with a moose last week. According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), a woman was out walking her dogs when she came across a cow moose. The surprised moose then bluff-charged the woman, but did not make contact. The spooked dogs ran away to avoid the moose’s charge; in doing so, they got “tangled up” with their owner, knocking her over. The woman broke her leg in the fall.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that a moose calf was present, and that the woman and dogs inadvertently came between the cow and calf, which could have led to the aggressive display. WGFD told Buckrail that the reporting party made no mention of a calf.
With the fall rut underway, moose in the region could behave more aggressively than usual. Moose are solitary creatures for most of the year, except during the mating season, which runs from late September into early October.
Aspens management has recommended that residents keep their head on a swivel when walking in the neighborhood, and encouraged dog owners to keep pets leashed. WGFD advises keeping an eye out for moose tracks and scat.
“If you do run into them, try to maintain a significant distance,” WGFD Public Information and Education Specialist Raegin Akhtar said.
Wildlife agencies note that moose are typically non-aggressive toward humans, and that many moose charges are bluffs, usually more of a warning to stay back. But if a moose does charge, don’t wait to find out if it’s bluffing. It is best to run and get behind something solid, like a tree, or retreat to a safe place, like inside of a building or car. WGFD recommends giving moose plenty of space to move freely, at least 25 yards, and backing away slowly in the event of a surprise encounter.
