A 51-year-old Nikiski woman was trampled by a moose Monday afternoon and flown to an Anchorage hospital for treatment of her injuries, Alaska State Troopers said.
A moose had been in the area of Interlake Drive for several days, troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel said. On Monday, neighbors reported a newborn calf was resting between Crystal Cook’s fence and an RV on the property, troopers said in an online report. The cow was on the other side of the fence, troopers wrote.
“Witnesses noted the calf called the cow in tones of distress, and Cook attempted to move toward the calf to stimulate the calf to move,” troopers wrote. “At that time, the cow jumped the fence onto Cook’s property and knocked her to the ground, and began trampling her.”
Cow moose are known to become aggressive if they are concerned about the safety of their calf. McDaniel said it wasn’t clear why Cook was trying to get the calf to move.
Witnesses called troopers just before 6:45 p.m. to report that Cook had been attacked, McDaniel said.
The cow and calf headed for a nearby wooded lot and neither were located, troopers said.
Cook was treated by paramedics for multiple injuries and flown to an Anchorage hospital, according to troopers. She was in fair condition Tuesday, troopers said.
This is the time of year when many moose are giving birth, and troopers said it’s important not to approach calves or come between a cow and calf.