Moose and other big animals along Gilpin County's Peak to Peak corridor

People moving to Gilpin County are often surprised to learn that moose now live here. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reestablished moose in the state decades ago, and the animals have spread into much of the mountains, including the willow-lined creeks and wetlands along the Peak to Peak corridor and in the James Peak high country. You may also see elk, mule deer, black bears, and, on rocky slopes, bighorn sheep.

Moose look slow and calm, but they are the animal most worth respecting. They are very large, they do not fear people the way deer do, and cows with calves or bulls in the fall rut can charge with little warning. Dogs especially set them off, because a moose reads a dog as a wolf.

CPW’s advice is simple: give moose a wide berth, never get between a cow and her calf, keep dogs leashed and close, and back away if a moose pins its ears, raises its hackles, or licks its lips. Watch from a distance and use a zoom lens rather than your feet to get closer.

For current wildlife safety guidance, see the CPW moose page.