North Routt is moose country, and moose deserve a wide berth

If you spend time in north Routt County, around the Elk River, Steamboat Lake, and the willow-lined bottoms below the Park Range, there is a good chance you will see a moose. Colorado brought moose into the nearby North Park country decades ago, and they have done well in this part of the state. Steamboat Lake State Park and the surrounding national forest also hold black bear, deer, and a long list of birds.

A moose is a thrill to watch, but it is not a tame animal, and it is not a deer. Moose are very large, surprisingly fast, and far less afraid of people than elk or deer are. Cows with calves in spring and bulls in the fall rut are especially touchy. Most moose problems come from people, or dogs, getting too close. A moose that pins its ears, raises the hair on its back, or licks its lips is telling you to back off.

The simple rule from Colorado Parks and Wildlife is distance. Watch and photograph from well back, keep dogs leashed and away, and never get between a moose and its calf or push it for a better picture.

For moose safety basics and what to do if one acts agitated, see the Colorado Parks and Wildlife moose page before you head into north Routt.