2 mother moose force trail closure at North Star Nature Preserve in Pitkin County

DENVER ( KDVR ) — A heads up, if you were planning to wander near the North Star Nature Preserve: Some trails have been closed to help prevent any conflicts with two mother moose in the area.

A portion of the East of Aspen Trail has been closed due to aggressive moose activity in the area, including one cow and her calf that has been spotted regularly on the East of Aspen Trail. The trail runs along the Roaring Fork River, near the North Star Preserve.

The cow has recently charged at trail users, leading to officials closing the section of the trail between the South Gate parking lot and North Star takeout. There is also a closure at The Beach . Pitkin County Open Space and Trails rangers have been monitoring the situation closely.

“Respecting the closure is crucial for everyone’s safety. We don’t want harm to come to anyone, including the moose,” Ranger Supervisor Rick Norman said in a release.

There is also a voluntary closure in effect for paddlers at North Star, and signs are posted at the South Gate launch site.

Moose are the largest mammals in Colorado, growing larger than elk and usually remaining docile. However, moose can and will charge and attack people who get too close. Moose calves are generally born in late spring, according to CPW, and cow moose are protective of their young.

They are more likely to be aggressive to people and dogs in their territory “well into the summer,” according to CPW. Breeding season is in the fall, according to CPW, and bulls especially become aggressive and territorial from late September through November.

Moose especially don’t like dogs, CPW reported, and if your dog chases or runs at a moose, do not try to attempt to catch it: you may put yourself at risk of serious injury. The agency emphasized giving the large animal space, even if it seems to have moved away.

“It is best to calmly and quickly leave the area in the opposite direction,” Pitkin County Open Space and Trails said. “Signs of moose aggression include laid-back ears, raised hairs on the neck, and licking of the snout.”

The agency recommended that people who witness a moose displaying this behavior or beginning to charge, run as fast as possible and try to put a large object between themselves and the moose, such as a boulder, car or tree.

While moose are one of the eligible species under the CPW Game Damage Assistance program, allowing landowners to request compensation for damage caused by the species, the agency paid far more to landowners who had damage from elk .

Elk were the cause of at least three attacks on people in Colorado this spring as cows tried to protect their young and residents tried to live their lives. At least one of the incidents involved a woman walking her leashed dog in a developed area of town when she apparently startled a cow elk and was knocked to the ground and stomped and kicked several times by the hoofed mammal.

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