Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Summit County Firefighters came to the aid of trapped moose.
And you thought your Saturday night was rough. A Keystone family and a young moose all found themselves in a bit of a situation this weekend, after the animal fell five feet into a residence's window well.
The moose was just doing moose things on a Colorado Saturday night, and found itself neck deep in trouble.
"They are extremely curious and often will approach humans or houses, and even will look into windows," said Colorado Parks and Wildlife of the species.
The young bull was estimated to weigh near 1,000 pounds, which is just the right size for a whole lot of damage. But he appeared to keep it calm, or he just plain didn't have the room to move, and didn't break any windows or damage the home. Responders on the scene were tasked with figuring out how to rescue him without causing more stress or injury.
Eventually, CPW officials tranquilized the bull, and with the help of and Summitt County Fire and EMS, rigged up a pulley system to hoist him out of the hole. Once out, he was checked over and sent on his way. The operation took a couple of hours, and everyone came out of it none the worse for wear (though the moose and homeowners were likely pretty rattled).
"The entire operation took a while, but our firefighters were able to get the moose, estimated at 800 to 1,000 pounds, out and safely on the driveway. There, he was awakened with a counteractive agent, and no injuries were suspected (including to firefighters)," said Summit Fire and EMS on its Facebook page.
The organization's Facebook post inspired one of the most Colorado comments ever: "That's a 'cat in a tree' Summit County style!" said commenter Tom. Another commenter, Martha, suggested that the team's EMS name really stands for "Emergency Moose Services."
This is just one of the many moose encounters Colorado has seen this season, including quite a few on the ski slopes of Breckenridge.
CPW offers the following tips if you run into a moose while out and about. Remember, they are awe-inspiring animals, but they don't particularly fear humans and should be given their space (especially during breeding and calving seasons when they're prone to be more aggressive):
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Never approach moose too closely. Watch and photograph from safe distances using telephoto lenses, binoculars, and spotting scopes.
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Move slowly and not directly at them. Back off if they exhibit signs of aggression, such as the hair on their neck standing up, licking their snout, cocking their head, and rolling their eyes and ears back.
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Keep pets away, as moose can get quite aggressive around them. Be especially cautious when walking dogs.
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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.
Have you encountered moose in your travels in the high country this year? Did you get any great pictures? Share them in the comments!
