Rhode Island Man Hospitalized After Moose Kick During Colorado Hike
Encounter with a mother moose and her calf led to a defensive kick that sent the hiker to the emergency room.
A hiker from Westerly, Rhode Island, required a trip to the hospital after a close encounter with a moose in Colorado. Dean Felicetti was hiking with his wife, Rosemary, and son, Gabriel, in the Colorado mountains when the family came across a mother moose and her calf on the trail.
According to reports, the family was heading back from a lake when their son alerted them to the moose's presence. Felicetti recounted that his son advised them to "Just don't turn your back. Don't run." As they began to back away, the baby moose approached them, followed by its mother.
Moose Charges Family
The mother moose then charged the family. Rosemary Felicetti scrambled up a hillside, while Dean Felicetti and Gabriel attempted to deter the animal. Felicetti used his trekking pole to fend off the moose, which then reared up and kicked him in the back. The moose and its calf eventually moved on, leaving the family with minor injuries.
Felicetti sought medical attention at an emergency room, sustaining only cuts, bruises, and a hoof print on his shirt. Despite the incident, Felicetti expressed understanding for the moose's actions, stating, "We 100% are supportive of the moose's decision as the mom to protect." His wife added, "She was doing her job."