Famous Moose of Meeker Park

When I’ve gone out for my walks this summer and fall around Meeker Park, the first thing people say to me is: “Have you seen the moose?”

It seems I always just missed it: it was down among the willows or close to the road, but by the time I got there it’s gone. My sister saw it three times this summer: once she and her dog were walking on Big Owl and the moose, with its young one, was acting in a somewhat aggressive manner, enough so that she went out of her way to avoid it; another time she and her family were on their back deck and their dog suddenly started staring intently at something.

I finally saw it last month, when it appeared across the road from my cabin. But by the time, I put down the phone and grabbed my camera, it had disappeared into the willows.

The moose have taken a long time to make their way to Meeker Park, which is maybe why they are such a big deal—that, and their size, which is immense. Bulls may reach a height of 6½ to 7½ feet at the shoulder, and weigh from 800 to 1,600 pounds, according to the Rocky Mountain National Park website. And when you add in their huge antlers, they seem even more imposing.

They were first introduced into Colorado in 1978 and 1979 by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which transferred two groups of moose (12 each year) from Wyoming to North Park in Colorado. I’ve never understood why, because there seem to be no evidence that moose were ever permanent residents of Colorado.

They soon migrated down into the western part of Rocky Mountain National Park, but it took them a long time to figure out how to cross the divide into the eastern side. I saw my first moose on this side about five years ago, when I was hiking up to Cub Lake, and it emerged from the willows. I was so excited I took a dozen photos and thought about showing it to the rangers, as if I had made the first sighting of moose in this part of the park. In the following years, I started seeing them more frequently, especially in areas with lakes and willows.

Both male and female moose have reputations for being unpredictable and aggressive. Again, from the RMNP website: “Rutting bull moose have charged horses, cars, and locomotives. The female is particularly protective of her calf. The moose has a top speed of 35 miles per hour.”

Which is why I was surprised to see an elderly couple, about a month ago on the Fern Lake trail in the park, slowly walking down the hill from where a moose was sitting among the grasses and bushes. She was walking with a cane, wearing a dress and city shoes, while he supported her, not walking too steadily himself. Did they think this was Disneyland, that they could get close enough to pet it? If this animal had decided to charge them, there was no way they would have been able to escape.

Other people were grouped at the bottom of the hill, directing others’ gaze toward the moose. It’s obvious that the moose has become the latest celebrity animal in the park, replacing the elk as the traffic stopper. Yet I can’t help but wonder; if you introduce an animal that doesn’t belong here, does it push out other animals and take over? The park service has been trying to reduce the number of elk because they compete with the beavers for willows. Yet the moose’s main food is willow. Like everyone else, I enjoy seeing the moose, but I’m not sure it belongs here.

Comments

[Laurel]

This is really interesting. I too find it strange that moose would be introduced anywhere where they are truly not native, but I find the whole process of introducing and reintroducing species is usually short sighted and ill fated. Moose are constant companions where I live. I see them often all year and their fresh tracks most days. I've been very half-heartedly false charged by a rutting bull moose - but I had just tossed a 5 gallon plastic pail at him to try to stop him eating my cherry tree, so he was more annoyed than aggressive and went right back to gnawing my tree to the ground after stomping and snorting and giving me the evil eye. I made a mental note to never throw anything at a moose again. Generally, when they appear, they just watch you and stand their ground. They aren't skittish and generally don't run from you because they really aren't afraid of anything other than wolves, and because wolves are their predator they tend to hate dogs and will attack and kick dogs that get in their way. I hope you get to enjoy some more encounters with your moose, any untoward behaviour on their part is highly unlikely and they are magnificent!

[Erin Block]

Fascinating post. I've seen their tracks on my land, and have seen a few up by Brainard Lake. However, I have always heard their being here explained as a "re-introduction," so was really interested in the impact of them being a completely new species to the Colorado ecosystem. Thanks for this post and the new information...and they're magnificent creatures, wherever they are.

[shoney]

Great post! I love to see the moose but have questions too about the long term consequences of introducing them to Colorado if they aren't native to the area. Fantastic photos!

[Sally]

Those pictures are GREAT!! What an interesting thing for you all in CO. But the introduction sounds strange if they have never been there before? Do they hunt them somewhere in the state?

[Eileen]

Hello, I was just blog hopping when I came across your blog. I love moose, how cool to see them in the wild. Wonderful photos!

[Kathy Kaiser]

Sally, as far as I know they're not hunted, so don't really know what they are doing here.

[Kathy Kaiser]

Laurel, I agree that the process of introducing and re-introducing animals is usually short-sighted and often detrimental to the landscape.

Yes, they are dangerous, as well as being big. It might be just a matter of time before someone gets charged in Rocky MOuntain National Park, as visitors seem to regard wildlife as something to be petted.

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