Orphaned calf found hours after mother killed when it attacked two people in Boulder County

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) veterinary staff is taking care of an orphaned moose calf near Nederland following Wednesday's moose attack.

June 8, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of two people and a dog injured when a cow moose charged them near the West Magnolia Trailhead near Nederland in southwest Boulder County.

That incident resulted in a sheriff's deputy shooting and killing the cow moose after it repeatedly charged the victims and first responders.

Later that evening, CPW was alerted of the female calf, likely less than three days old, alone in the area. According to CPW, the calf's chance of survival is unknown at this time and officials aren't sure how much early colostrum she would have received from her mother, which provides the much-needed nutrients and antibodies vital to its survival.

According to CPW, this incident was the third moose attack in the last two weeks. All involved cow moose were defensive of their nearby calves.

CPW told KRDO that people can take measures to prevent these types of interactions. Officials say in general, moose are animals that people should stay a safe distance away from.

Between mid-May through mid-June, which is when most moose calves are born, CPW suggests people leave dogs at home while out in areas moose might be. They say dogs are oftentimes catalysts to moose attacks.

If you find yourself near a moose, CPW says to watch out for warning signs they're going to charge like ears back, aggressive sounds, and fur standing up. If a moose charges, CPW says to run away and get something large between you and the moose.

For more information on precautions to avoid and minimize dangerous encounters, watch the video below or click here.