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ENLARGE
A motion sensor camera in Cucumber Gulch captured this image of a young moose this past summer.
BRECKENRIDGE - A flurry of unprecedented moose activity in Cucumber Gulch has local activists concerned about the impacts dogs running free have on the wetlands.
"We've recently noticed he's become more visible," said Breckenridge Nordic Center owner Gene Dayton, referring to a bull moose that makes his home in the gulch.
"It sounds like he's getting aggravated by a number of things," said Heide Andersen, the town's open space and trails director. "The gondola's running. That's probably disconcerting to him."
"We've recently noticed he's become more visible," said Breckenridge Nordic Center owner Gene Dayton, referring to a bull moose that makes his home in the gulch.
"It sounds like he's getting aggravated by a number of things," said Heide Andersen, the town's open space and trails director. "The gondola's running. That's probably disconcerting to him."
The moose behaved somewhat aggressively toward a skier in the area last weekend, Andersen said.
The start-up of gondola operations may be the biggest single change in the area in recent weeks, but Dayton reckons that unleashed dogs may be a bigger factor.
"The gondola will become part of his environment," Dayton said, adding that the gondola doesn't make any noise and follows a consistent pattern. Dogs, on the other hand, are related to wolves, a key predator of moose in the wild.
Nordic center employees have in several cases spotted loose dogs chasing the moose, he said.
"Obviously, he's stressed," Dayton said.
The start-up of gondola operations may be the biggest single change in the area in recent weeks, but Dayton reckons that unleashed dogs may be a bigger factor.
"The gondola will become part of his environment," Dayton said, adding that the gondola doesn't make any noise and follows a consistent pattern. Dogs, on the other hand, are related to wolves, a key predator of moose in the wild.
Nordic center employees have in several cases spotted loose dogs chasing the moose, he said.
"Obviously, he's stressed," Dayton said.
Dr. Christy Carello, a biologist who monitors the gulch for the town, said she thinks it may be a combination of both things that has aggravated the moose. She said the passing shadows of the gondola cars may have spooked the critter.
There are several other cross-country areas where encounters between moose and humans are fairly frequent, and that the two species seem to be able to co-exist, Carello said.
"He'll either get used to it or he'll move on. But I think he'll get used to it," Carello said.
The town bans dogs from Cucumber Gulch. Those restrictions are, for the most part, clearly posted, but there are some adjacent neighborhoods where dog owners may simply be letting their pets out the door with direct access to the gulch.
Construction sites in the area, where workers bring their dogs to the area, are also of concern.
There are several other cross-country areas where encounters between moose and humans are fairly frequent, and that the two species seem to be able to co-exist, Carello said.
"He'll either get used to it or he'll move on. But I think he'll get used to it," Carello said.
The town bans dogs from Cucumber Gulch. Those restrictions are, for the most part, clearly posted, but there are some adjacent neighborhoods where dog owners may simply be letting their pets out the door with direct access to the gulch.
Construction sites in the area, where workers bring their dogs to the area, are also of concern.
A recent incident when the moose approached some cross-country skiers spurred town officials to launch a door-to-door outreach effort, passing out fliers, as well as increased enforcement by the police department.
"We really care about the wildlife in this area," Andersen said. "It's really frustrating," she added, asking residents and visitors to respect the Cucumber Gulch area for the wildlife sanctuary that it is.
Moose can be dangerous and have been known to charge at people, Carello said. In some places, where encounters have become too close for comfort, ski area operators have re-routed trails to avoid problems. Since moose have poor eyesight, the best thing to do is to back away slowly and try and hide behind a tree.
"A moose will have a hard time distinguishing you from the tree," Carello said.
"We really care about the wildlife in this area," Andersen said. "It's really frustrating," she added, asking residents and visitors to respect the Cucumber Gulch area for the wildlife sanctuary that it is.
Moose can be dangerous and have been known to charge at people, Carello said. In some places, where encounters have become too close for comfort, ski area operators have re-routed trails to avoid problems. Since moose have poor eyesight, the best thing to do is to back away slowly and try and hide behind a tree.
"A moose will have a hard time distinguishing you from the tree," Carello said.
