A bull moose has been spotted Tuesday morning in and around the Grapevine Hollow neighborhood off 65th Avenue in Evans.
Evans police and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife are aware and “evaluating the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of both the public and the moose,” according to an Evans Police Department Facebook post.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife public information officer Kara Van Hoose said the drug used to sedate moose puts them at risk of overheating.
“It’s just not safe to attempt it when temperatures are in the 90s,” Van Hoose said. “So if temperatures go down this evening, and if we have enough staffing, it’s something that we would consider. Or tomorrow morning before it gets really hot. It just depends on a lot of factors.”
While the moose is still on the loose, Evans police issued a handful of tips to stay safe:
- Keep at least 25 yards away to keep from startling or upsetting the moose.
- Avoid approaching, feeding or provoking it.
- Keep dogs on a leash to prevent them from disturbing the moose or being injured.
- Don’t gather in groups, as it may agitate the moose.
“Moose are large animals,” Van Hoose said. “They don’t have a fear of humans, because they know that they’re so much bigger than us.”
Van Hoose added that “hazing” the moose, by making noise or flashing lights at it is also an effective strategy.
This is the first Weld County moose sighting in 2025. Three moose were spotted early last July in a handful of northern Weld County communities and a moose was seen near the Weld County Jail in Greeley in 2023.
Prior to that, the last moose sighting in Greeley was in 2018.