As summer heats up Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds the public to be careful of wildlife

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Just south of Divide on Crags trail, a woman and her unleashed dog had a tense encounter with a cow moose and her calf.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said the moose likely charged because she was protecting her calf.

“These confrontations can happen with bears, moose, elk, deer, and other wildlife and especially when dogs are involved. They view the dogs as a predator and react in defense of their young," CPW says.

The woman yelled at the moose. That's when the animal turned and charged her. While trying to run, she fell and broke her arm.

She told CPW that the moose stood over her until it left to resume chasing the dog.

After the cow and calf wandered off, the woman and her dog returned to their car.

“This incident is a reminder of why we warn everyone to respect wildlife and give them their space,” said Tim Kroening, CPW’s Area Wildlife Manager for the Pikes Peak region. “We know Colorado residents love their dogs. But to keep them safe, we urge people not to take their dogs into wildlife habitats during fawning and calving season and never let them off-leash."

CPW has put signs on the trail to warn visitors of moose activity and ask them to avoid the area.

The incident is another in a series of recent moose conflicts that have resulted in injuries to people in Colorado. At least two others also involved cows exhibiting defensive behavior because of their nearby calves.

CPW advises keeping your dog leashed if you bring it but says pups are best left at home.

For more information, click here.