An attack by an aggressive moose along Varsity Trail in College Heights has resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to one man and the death of a 13-year-old chihuahua.
The incident occurred Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 a.m.
One of the victims, Bre Hughson, told The Citizen what happened.
“We came to the main intersection where all the paths meet and came face to face with the moose,” Hughson said. “My husband said, ‘Moose!’ Before I could even see the moose, it was charging us. It kicked my husband in the side of the head and knocked both of us down. My bigger dog barked once, it kicked my husband, knocked us to the ground, and then started to turn around and charge again. We were able to army-crawl into the bush. Then we went down into the ravine and walked off. That’s when we noticed our little dog wasn’t with us.”
When Hughson and her husband Luke returned with more people from the area, they found their 13-year-old chihuahua, Juliet, dead as a result of the attack.
Hughson and her family are avid hikers and are well-versed in wildlife safety. They initially attributed the attack to a freak accident, until they heard of a similar incident involving a neighbour.
“I ended up talking to the woman who lives in the cul-de-sac across from me. I found out that three days before this incident, at the same spot, she and her twin daughters were walking with their two leashed dogs when they came around the same corner. She first noticed the moose already had its ears back and began charging. She said there wasn’t even a second to figure out what to do — they all just had to run, and it separated them. She said she reported the incident to conservation officers.”
Since the two attacks, residents have put up homemade signage warning of an aggressive moose along Varsity Trail. Hughson said conservation officers have not put up any official warning signs so far.
On Wednesday, conservation officers began an official investigation into the incident.
Conservation officers advise people to take precautions in case of wildlife encounters, including travelling in groups, being aware of your surroundings, leashing pets, and keeping children close by.
The Conservation Officer Service is also asking the public to report moose conflicts and aggressive moose behaviour at 1-877-952-7277.
For more information and safety tips, visit WildSafeBC.com.
