A bull moose grazes in Sheep Lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colo.

A woman in Colorado suffered head and back injuries after being attacked by a bull moose while walking her dog on Wednesday, Nov. 5, state parks and wildlife officials said.

The attack occurred west of Jamestown, about a 43-mile drive from Denver, around 1 p.m. local time, Kara Van Hoose, spokesperson for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said in a news release on Nov. 6. The unidentified woman was walking her dog off-leash near her home at the time of the attack, according to the state government agency.

During the attack, the young moose knocked the woman to the ground before stomping her multiple times, Van Hoose said, adding that the victim was taken to a nearby hospital with "head and back injuries."

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers responded to the scene but were unable to locate the aggressive moose. The officers placed "signs warning of aggressive moose behavior" near the scene, according to the agency.

What should people do when encountering moose?

According to Van Hoose, the majority of moose attacks involve dogs, which are viewed as predators or potential threats by the large animals. The agency is also urging people to keep pets on a leash when recreating outdoors, particularly near riparian habitats, which are where moose prefer to live.

Riparian areas are "lands that occur along the edges of rivers, streams, lakes, and other water bodies," such as streambanks, riverbanks, and floodplains, according to the National Park Service.

When encountered, moose should be given ample space and not approached, Van Hoose said. Although moose are large animals, they are "very fast" and capable of running at speeds up to 35 mph, she added.

If spotted while recreating outdoors, people can use rocks, trees or vehicles as barriers between themselves and the moose, according to Van Hoose.

Are bull moose aggressive?

During the fall mating season in late September and October, also known as the rut, bull moose "may be aggressive toward humans," according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

If a moose is preparing to attack, the long hairs on its hump will raise, its ears will lay back (similar to a dog or cat) and it may lick its lips, the department said.

"A moose that sees you and walks slowly towards you is not trying to be your friend; it may be looking for a hand-out or warning you to keep away," the department added. "All of these are dangerous situations and you should back away. Look for the nearest tree, fence, building, car, or other obstruction to duck behind."

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Moose attack in Colorado leaves woman with head, back injuries, officials say

Reporting by Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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