A moose died but her calf was saved by wildlife officers on Saturday after the two animals fell into an unsecured well in Rollinsville.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Jason Clay said the cow died in the well, but the calf was resting on top of her, and wildlife officers were able to use catch poles and a tow strap to get it out.
Today's actually is from an operation over the weekend.
A cow and calf moose fell into a well that a landowner negligently left unsecured by Rollinsville. Our Area 1 wildlife officers used catch poles and a tow strap to save the .
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE)
Clay said wildlife officers don’t know which animal fell in first.
“If the calf was first, the cow likely went in to try to get underneath it to free it,” Clay said.
Wildlife officials said the calf was already weened of its mother’s milk, so it was relocated and released.
“Itap a bittersweet story, but serves as an important reminder to landowners and residents to keep wildlife in mind with the various facets on your property,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife wrote in a tweet.
Clay said that the case is under investigation. While there are no laws that specifically address a landowner not securing a well that poses a risk to wildlife, Clay said there was a salt lick in the area that might have been illegal.
