Special thanks to Janet “Jan” Robertson for reaching out to IPWA regarding the history of Moose introduction into Colorado and for her lifetime work of championing the wilderness! Jan is one of the three pioneering women who founded the Indian Peaks Working Group in 1985, which would later be renamed the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA). Their efforts led to the congressional designation of the 73,391-acre Indian Peaks Wilderness on October 12, 1978 (and later on in 2002, the designation of the adjacent 17,391-acre James Peak Wilderness). To learn more, visit Our History page.
One of the great things about the Colorado wilderness is the abundant wildlife, which for better or worse now includes moose. While moose are majestic creatures, it is important to remember that they are non-natives and have wide ranging impacts that should be discussed and managed. To learn more about the history of moose introduction in the state, visit: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/Mammals/MooseReintroductionFactSheet.pdf
As with all wildlife, watch moose from a safe distance and keep your dog on a leash (this is the #1 source of moose attacks)! Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has some great fact sheets on how to avoid conflicts with wildlife, including moose, bears and mountain lions:
Stay safe out there and keep it wild!