Weighing up to 1,000 pounds and towering 6 feet high at the shoulder, moose are Colorado’s largest wild mammal. While moose sightings are fairly common today, moose were quite rare in Colorado throughout most of the 20th century. But, thanks to successful reintroduction and management by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado’s moose are now one of the fastest-growing herds in the lower 48 states.
Re-establishing Moose in Colorado
In the late 1970s, moose reintroduction efforts began with 24 moose that were transplanted into Colorado’s North Park area. In 1978, wildlife managers relocated 12 moose from Utah to an area near Walden, Colorado. And in 1979, an additional twelve moose from Wyoming were released into Colorado’s Illinois River drainage. This early population reproduced quickly. And as the moose population continued to grow, moose dispersed to areas around the state that provided suitable habitat.
Guided by Research
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s researchers study mammal, bird, fish and plant populations with the goals of garnering new knowledge and improving wildlife management and conservation for generations to come. For more information, please visit the Conservation & Management section of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.
Video by peaktocreekfilms.com
2 Responses
Not sure why you call this a “reintroduction” in regard to moose. Moose, like Mountain Goats were NOT native as a breeding population in Colorado – even your own documents state such. They were INTRODUCED into the state for the pleasure of wildlife watching and hunting opportunities according to your own documents.
For more than 100 years moose have wandered in and out of Colorado. With the earliest records of moose in Colorado dating back to the 1860s. Since that time there have been periodic sightings and an occasional report of moose being killed in the high mountain parks of Colorado. Moose appeared to be moving slowly southward; in 1978 CPW speeded the process up.