The recent decision by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to relocate two moose that have been frequenting Steamboat Ski Area has been a long time coming and is the result of more and more close encounters between the large animals and humans, which is a dangerous mix. And while there’s always risks associated with moving wildlife to a new habitat, we think CPW made the right call in this situation.

With the diversity and proliferation of wildlife in Northwest Colorado, it’s imperative that we learn to live compatibly with animals and nature, but sometimes action has to be taken to protect people, especially when you’re dealing with those who have not been educated on how to react appropriately when they come into contact with a wild animal. We can presume that when moose were first reintroduced into North Park more than 30 years ago, no one imagined a female moose and her calf would one day be hanging around the Steamboat base area.

Because moose, similar to humans, look for the path of least resistance when traveling from one area to another, they often choose to walk on groomed ski runs, such as BC Ski Way, rather than tromping through deep snow. As a result, skiers are encountering one particular pair of moose, which are becoming more and more agitated when people ski by or stop to take selfies with the moose.

Read more at Steamboat Today.