Fort Collins Harassment Lawyer
Charged for Harassment of Wildlife?

A woman was charged with Harassment of Wildlife after smacking a moose on the butt. Read more here.

In Fort Collins and Larimer County, Harassment can be charged for many different reasons. From shoving someone to calling them repeatedly, there are many different scenarios that can result in a Harassment charge. But, can it be charged if the alleged victim is an animal? A woman was recently charged with Harassment of Wildlife after she wouldn’t leave a moose alone in Breckenridge. The interaction was caught on camera and showed the woman following the moose, which had wandered into a populated area near Main Street, and then smacked the moose on the behind. Luckily, the moose didn’t react too much, as things could have ended much worse for the woman than a ticket for Harassment. So, is wildlife covered under the Harassment statute? Let’s find out.

Larimer County Harassment Attorney: Definition of Harassment in Colorado

The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Harassment – C.R.S. 18-9-111 – is:

(1) A person commits harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she:

(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him to physical contact; or

(b) In a public place directs obscene language or makes an obscene gesture to or at another person; or

(c) Follows a person in or about a public place; or

(d) Repealed.

(e) Directly or indirectly initiates communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telephone network, data network, text message, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium that is obscene; or

(f) Makes a telephone call or causes a telephone to ring repeatedly, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate conversation; or

(g) Makes repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invade the privacy of another and interfere in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property; or

(h) Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communications in offensively coarse language to, another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.

After reading all the subsections, the two that could possibly apply would be subsection (a) for smacking the moose and subsection (c) for following the moose. However, both refer to a ‘person’ as the victim of the harassing action.

Harassment of Wildlife in Loveland and Estes Park

There is a specific statute related to Harassing Wildlife in Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park. The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Harassment of Wildlife – C.R.S. 33-6-128 – is:

(1) Unless permitted by the division, it is unlawful for any person to willfully damage or destroy any wildlife den or nest or their eggs or to harass any wildlife. Any person who violates this subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of one hundred dollars and an assessment of ten license suspension points. For the purposes of this subsection (1), nothing shall prohibit the removal of wildlife dens or nests when necessary to prevent damage to property or livestock or while trapping.

If cited for this offense, the punishment is a fine and license suspension points.


If you or someone you love has been charged with Harassment (of a person or wildlife), be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule your free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.

Image Source: Pexels-Pixabay