News Jan 29, A young bull moose that had been wandering around Minturn since mid-January was found dead near the Game Creek trailhead on Sunday. The moose first showed up in Minturn earlier this month.
Some Minturn residents had even given the large mammal a name, according to Gonzales: Morty the Minturn Moose. Gonzales believes the moose, which was about a year and a half old, was one of two calves he spotted last year in Cross Creek accompanied by their mother. Instead of staying near Cross Creek, where it had access to an abundance of food resources, or at least heading away from town, the young moose wound up in Minturn, where food resources and open space were limited and humans abounded.
Maybe they get fed or they feel safe. Having a moose living so close to people is also unsafe for humans. It is definitely more dangerous than a bear. Never, ever approach a moose or any wildlife, especially a moose.
While the moose in Minturn did seem to be making an attempt to leave town, heading in the direction of Game Creek, it died before it was able to leave. Jim Gonzales pointed out how the position the moose was found in likely indicates its cause of death.
Nobody shot it, nobody harassed it. And this moose was standing when it fell over dead. Gonzales, who also participated in the removal of that moose, said he did not think there was any connection between the two incidents. A separate moose spent most of last winter in EagleVail. Gonzales said that was not the moose that died in Minturn, which would have been a calf last winter.
