Wildlife Officials Looking For Man Caught Dangerously Close To Moose
FRISCO, Colo. (CBS4) - Colorado Parks and Wildlife are looking for the man caught extremely close to a moose in Frisco.
A picture of the man circulated across social media showing him standing a few feet away from an angry moose along 10 Mile Drive on Friday.
A witness told wildlife officials he saw the man chase the moose onto the median.
Not only does this show what not to do when you see a moose, but it shows what happens when you bother them.
"It is very evident from the photo that the moose is angry, and the man could easily have been attacked and injured, or possibly killed," said District Wildlife Manager Elissa Slezak of Summit County. "You can clearly see that the moose's ears are pinned back and its hackles are raised."
They say moose generally won't attack people, but if they feel threatened they will defend themselves.
Moose do not fear people and will stand their ground, giving the impression they are tolerant of a human's presence.
This isn't the first time a human has harassed a moose in Frisco. In February, Colorado Parks and Wildlife were searching for the man in a video showing the man getting too close to a moose before he charges at him.
"Moose are very territorial. He seemed to be testing how close he could get to the animal," said Travis Duncan, a spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "He's very lucky to be alive."
Officials say if a moose harms a person, wildlife officials would have to put it down.
"We want to keep wildlife wild. I wish everyone knew that you need to be careful around wildlife," Duncan said.
Anyone with information about the most recent incident can remain anonymous by calling Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Rewards are available if the information leads to an arrest or citation.
RELATED: Officials Warn Warmer Weather Means More Moose Near Town
Slezak says the individual in the photo will likely be cited for harassment of wildlife if he is identified, but the bigger concern is making sure the individual does not repeat the behavior.