Mother Describes Six-Year-Old's Eagle River Moose Attack

May 29, 2012|By Jason Lamb | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Chloe Metzger, 6, is in fair condition according to Providence hospital officials, after a moose attack Monday night at her home in Eagle River.

The moose stomped her while she was playing in her backyard with a neighborhood friend, Anchorage Police say.

Chloe's mom, Julie Metzger, said Chloe underwent one surgery already, and will undergo another Wednesday to repair torn muscles in her upper arm and a broken clavicle.

"I think her spirits are still high and she seems like a girl that's in recovery and happy that people are coming to visit her," Julie said.

According to Julie, Chloe and her friend were jumping on a trampoline in their yard, when the two decided they wanted to "go potty" in the woods near their yard when the moose saw them and started to chase them.

The moose got Chloe, and stomped her on the ground, Julie said. Her friend was able to get away, seeking cover in the backyard playset.

"When I heard the screams I looked out the window to see (Chloe) getting stomped on by the moose, so I was there on the deck screaming and my husband was doing all that he could to get the girls to safety," Julie said.

Julie's husband Wade tried to throw a piece of wood at the moose to scare it away, Julie said. Eventually, the moose was distracted enough so that Chloe made her way to the playset, but then the moose started attacking it.

Police say Chloe's friend, Kelsey Lauren, was injured when the playset fell over, but her injuries were minor enough that Lauren didn't need to stay overnight in the hospital.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists say during the current moose calving season, people in and around the woods need to be particularly careful if they encounter a moose.

Julie said Chloe is still coping with the attack.

"She's just trying to understand why the moose did that to her," Julie said. "I said, 'well, it was protecting its baby,' and she just said, "Well, I didn't want it's baby'."

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