The extraordinary amounts of snow and rain (now ice) that fell in Interior Alaska at the end of December has made for tough going for wildlife, especially moose. They are stressed trying to get around in the deep snow and are going to be looking for the most energy efficient places to be. Often, those places are cleared roads, driveways, and walkways. They may be feeding, resting, or bedded down anywhere and reluctant to move very far.
Moose typically respond to threat by fl...ight or fight. Flight is no longer an efficient option, so fight is the dominant response under these conditions. They may be aggressive and perceive anything in their space as a threat. Here are some tips for staying safe:
• Keep your head up and look around before you walk out the door or around the corner and especially while walking on trails or in the dark. Moose can be anywhere and are often hard to see until you are too close.
• If you see a moose, alter your route and give them a very wide berth. Do not approach! If a moose charges, run away!
• Don't try to scare moose away. No yelling, clapping or approaching on foot or by vehicle, no horn honking, to get them to move. This just makes them ornery and may result in a charge.
• Moose react dramatically to dogs so keep pets away to avoid harassment and minimize aggression and stress (to all).
• Slow down when driving. Hard snow berms act as a barrier and make it difficult for moose to get out of the way. Road surface conditions also make it challenging for you to avoid them.
Please use a healthy dose of caution and stay safe.
NPS Photo / Tyler Devine