A moose spent hours posing for photographs in the Animas River on Friday morning before scurrying off to find peace and solitude away from the eyes of an adoring public.
More than 100 people gathered along the riverbanks to watch the young male, which was spotted as early as 6:55 a.m. running southbound on East Second Avenue near 10th Street. It then made its way to the river behind the DoubleTree Hotel.
He slowly moved a short distance north and, as of 11:20 a.m., was standing in the river just south of the Ninth Street Bridge.
The Durango Police Department closed Roosa Avenue from Ninth Street to U.S. Highway 160 for a brief time to allow the four-legged star an escape route.
He left the river about 11:25 a.m., crossed Roosa and headed west.
A moose sighting in Durango is a rarity.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist Brad Weinmeister said despite the stable moose population in Silverton and throughout the area, few wander into town.
“It’s not what you would consider typical moose habitat,” Weinmeister said after returning from the river where he was handling the issue. “But when they get to be that age, they tend to wander a lot more and look at new territories to set up in, so sometimes they turn up in places you don’t expect to see them.”
CPW officials estimated the young bull to be about a 1½ years old.
Moose were first introduced to the state in the 1970s. According to CPW, about 100 of the ungulates from Wyoming, Utah and North Park were released in the early 1990s near Creede, about 120 miles northeast of Durango. The population has expanded ever since.
Matt Thorpe, CPW area wildlife manager, said a precise population count for moose in the region is difficult to figure, because unlike deer, elk and other species, moose tend to travel alone.
“They’re different because they’re solitary and because of the way they’re adapted; they don’t come down to areas like this,” Thorpe said. “But it seems to be the population is doing well and they’re continuing to expand. We haven’t moved them; they’ve pioneered and dispersed to new areas like Silverton on their own.”
In the crowd observing the moose taking a dip in the river was local real estate agent Don Ricedorff, who made sure to snap a photo. A moose sighting not just in Durango but in the region was a first for Ricedorff.
“I’ve never seen a moose in the southwestern part of Colorado,” he said. “There were a few that resided in the Pine River Valley, so it’s not totally uncommon. I heard about a small herd in the Creede area, so likely it came from the other side of the creek.
“It was a neat thing to see, for sure. Even the moose like it here in Durango.”
Weinmeister reported the animal was becoming agitated with its large audience and advised people not to crowd it – especially given a moose’s temperament.
“Of all the animals in Colorado, I’m most concerned when I see a moose up close, especially if something is bothering them too much,” he said. “It’s exciting, but the best thing to do is give it space, and if it wants to go someplace, let it go.”
jpace@durangoherald.com