Colorado Mother Moose Kicks 1 Hiker Protecting Calf on Family Trail

Q: How exactly did a hiker survive a direct kick from an 800-pound protective mother moose with only minor bruises?

He likely survived with only minor bruising because the kick was glancing rather than full-force, it landed on a relatively protected part of his body, and the moose moved on instead of continuing the attack. Even an 800-pound cow moose does not injure every person to the maximum extent possible with every strike. In this case, reports say Dean Felicetti was kicked in the back, had cuts and bruises, and even a hoof print on his shirt, but no reported spinal, rib, or internal injuries. That suggests the hoof connected hard enough to knock and mark him, but not with the direct, crushing impact that causes major trauma. His clothing, body position, and the uneven rocky terrain may also have reduced how squarely the hoof landed. Another key factor is that the animal’s goal was defensive, not predatory. Wildlife guidance from Colorado Parks and Wildlife says mother moose with calves often charge to drive threats away. Once the calf was clear and the family was no longer an immediate threat, the moose left. That limited the encounter to a single brief blow instead of repeated stomping or multiple kicks, which are far more dangerous. He was also fortunate in the aftermath. A passing trauma physician assistant reportedly gave immediate first aid, and he later went to the emergency room, where doctors found only minor injuries. In short, survival here appears to have been a matter of angle, location of impact, short duration of the attack, and luck.

Q: Did throwing rocks actually provoke the 800-pound mother moose rather than scare it away during the Colorado trail encounter?

There is no clear evidence that throwing rocks caused the attack; the stronger explanation is that the mother moose was already reacting defensively to protect her calf. By Dean Felicetti’s account and the related reporting, the cow moose “charged almost immediately” after the calf moved toward the family. That timing matters: it suggests the aggression began before, or at least as, Dean and his son were trying to fend it off. The family was also on a narrow trail with limited room to retreat, which likely increased the animal’s sense that its calf was threatened. Wildlife guidance from Colorado Parks and Wildlife supports that reading. Officials warn that cows with calves are among the most aggressive moose and can charge or kick when people get too close. Their advice is to back away, avoid crowding the animal, and, if charged, put a large object like a tree or boulder between you and the moose. That guidance does not recommend throwing rocks as a standard response. So while rock-throwing may not have helped and could have escalated the tension in the moment, the available facts do not show it was the trigger. The mother moose appears to have been acting out of maternal defense from the outset. In that sense, the family’s own view aligns with expert guidance: the animal was most likely protecting its calf, not attacking without cause.

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16

A Rhode Island man was kicked in the back by a mother moose during a family hike in Colorado and escaped with cuts, bruises and a hoof print on his shirt.
The attack began after the family spotted a moose ahead on the trail, backed away, and then saw a calf come off a switchback with the mother charging behind it.
Dean Felicetti tried to fend off the animal with a trekking pole while his son yelled and threw rocks, and his wife scrambled up the hillside before the moose moved on.
Felicetti later went to an emergency room but suffered only minor injuries, and he and his wife said they did not blame the animal for defending its baby.