Mountain biker has close encounter with cow moose

A Pocatello man came head-to-head with a cow moose over the weekend while riding his mountain bike on the Gibson Jack Trail on Saturday.

Luis Fernandez was riding with his friends when he found himself within 10 feet of the moose. After seeing him, the moose began to run toward him.

“I threw my bike and started running as fast as I could,” he said. “I tried to find a place to hide.”

Fernandez ended up on the ground, covering his head, with the moose over him. That’s when the moose kicked him several times, cracking his helmet and leaving a bruise on his arm.

After the moose left, Fernandez caught up with his friends. While on the trail, they saw the moose’s calf and assumed the moose was just being protective of her young.

“I don’t blame the moose, the trail or anybody else,” Fernandez said. “I think it’s something that happens and it can happen anytime.”

Idaho Fish & Game said Fernandez acted accordingly to the attack, but people need to prepare differently for other animals like bears or mountain lions.

“It’s on us, as outdoor enthusiasts, to make ourselves aware of our situations,” said Jennifer Jackson, regional conservation education with Fish & Game. “Also, to be prepared and to have an understanding of how to react in certain situations.”

While a scary experience, Fernandez said he won’t stop riding anytime soon.

“I will probably avoid the trail for a few days until I know that the moose is gone,” he said. “I need to get a helmet, but I’ll keep biking and be careful with it.”

Idaho Fish & Game and the U.S. Forest Service decided to close a section of the Gibson Jack Trail on Monday.

Idaho Fish & Game recommends people to visit their website if they have any questions about preparing for wildlife encounters.