Grand Lake man likely walked into attack by moose

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

Grand Lake man likely walked into attack by moose
By Steve Lipsher and Marsha Austin
Denver Post Staff Writers





Louis Heckert suffered head injuries after he was repeatedly butted by a bull moose Sunday morning.

Partially blinded by macular degeneration, the 91-year-old "father of Grand Lake" probably walked smack into the moose that attacked him as he strolled along the town's main street on his way to church, his relatives said Monday.

Described as a tough old guy, Louis "Louie" Heckert showed substantial improvement from the severe head injury that he suffered when the mature bull moose repeatedly butted him Sunday morning, according to his son and son-in-law.

"He's doing a lot better than he was (Sunday) night. We were really worried about him," Chuck Heckert said of his father. "He's not talking and laughing and everything. But he does recognize people, and he is trying to talk some."

The 800-pound moose was killed by Colorado Division of Wildlife officer Kirk Oldham, who discovered the animal had five broken ribs - including one that punctured the chest cavity - and two dislocated vertebra, probably stemming from being struck by a vehicle and perhaps contributing to its agitation.

"The critter was likely in some significant pain," said DOW spokesman Randy Hampton. "That's not to justify what happened. And once we realized the attack was unprovoked, the officer contacted his supervisor, and together they made the decision that the moose should be put down."

Chuck Heckert said his father probably would be angry at the moose, but he acknowledged that Grand Lake is good habitat for the animal.

"We can't blame the moose for trying to defend his own territory," he said. "I'm sure Dad would feel that way."

Chuck Heckert even joked that when his father regains his wits, he will wonder why they didn't place the butchered moose in his freezer. Actually, the DOW donated the meat to a local food bank.

Heckert, a former mayor of Grand Lake and former president of the chamber of commerce, was rushed to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver in critical condition after the attack.

"He's the strongest 92-year- old man you will ever find," said Greg Todd of his father-in-law, who turns 92 on Wednesday. "I wouldn't have given you a lot of chance (of Heckert's survival) yesterday, but he's




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a tough, tough guy."
A widower who once served in the Merchant Marine, Heckert hunted elk until age 86 - when Todd suggested that Heckert's deteriorating vision was a hazard - has tap-danced every weekend at the Lariat Saloon and bowled a 174 just last week.

He and his wife of 61 years, Gladys, who died three years ago, even ran the town's bingo hall that now bears his name, and by the time word spread of his moose travails, "half the town" had called the hospital, leaving messages of warm wishes.

Moose attacks in Colorado are exceedingly rare, although mothers with calves or bulls during the autumn rut can be aggressive, and they cause more human deaths in Alaska than grizzly bears.

"People often think that they are going to be attacked by a big-toothed critter, like a lion or a bear," said Todd Malmsbury, a former DOW spokesman. "But in fact, they are more likely to be hurt by a deer."

Just two weeks ago in Grand Lake, Margie Shoemaker of Centennial was bruised and shaken after encountering an aggressive bull moose, which may have been the same one that attacked Heckert.

"My first reaction was 'Wow, a moose!"' she said of the March 12 incident near her weekend home. "But the look in its eyes, ... I turned and started to run."

The moose knocked Shoemaker to the ground and began trampling her, she said, but a policeman on a snowmobile approached and scared it off.

"They are a majestic animal," said Shoemaker, who professes a love for the animals. "I just didn't realize they were so dangerous."