Moose on the Loose!

Written by: Michelle Witte, Nature Education Director

Intro

As Nederland residents often notice, the Shiras Moose  (Alces alces shirasi) is quite prolific not only in our beautiful town and local wilderness areas but across most of the state, especially during the spring to summer seasons.

Did you know…

One of their favorite meals is the bark of Quaking Aspen trees, you may notice the distinct chew marks on local aspen groves throughout the area. Moose also enjoy many aquatic plants, and it might surprise you that they make excellent swimmers. Using their large nostrils and noses as a snorkel a Moose may dive up to 20 feet below the surface to forage on underwater vegetation, and they are known to swim up to nine miles.

Let's Co-Exist Safely!

With such an active moose population in our beloved town and mountains, it is important to learn as much as you can about living and adventuring in moose territory. Being a large deer, you may not immediately know that Moose can exhibit quite aggressive behavior, especially this time of year. The female cows likely have their young calves beside them, making them very protective of their babies. A good rule with any wildlife animal is to never come between a mama and her young.  Some signs that you may have encountered an aggressive Moose are them walking in your direction, stomping their feet, peeling their ears back, grunting, and/or throwing their head back and forth.Moose can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, not an encounter of light proportions.

If you see a moose do not go near them and give them plenty of space (200 feet or more), even if you think they aren’t noticing your presence they probably are. Make sure that if you are walking with your dog, you keep it close, probably even on a leash, and under control, moose are used to the threat of Coyotes, and even small dogs may appear as a predator to them and cause them to become defensive. Some other specific tips of what to do if the Moose becomes defensive and aggressive are to 1) Back away with your palms facing the moose 2) Speak softly and reassuringly, like you would to a little child 3) If the moose charges, get behind a large tree or rock in order to separate your body from the moose. Most moose charges are bluffs BUT DON'T COUNT ON IT. 4) If the moose attacks you, curl up in a little ball pretending like you're dead. Protect your head and neck with your arms. If you are wearing a backpack, your pack will protect your back.

In Conclusion...

We are lucky to have such a wonderful and healthy population of wildlife like the Shiras Moose in our little town. Just like with any of our animal brothers and sisters, it is important to remember that this is their home too. We all must find ways to cohabitat peacefully, and with a little bit of knowledge and respect for our moose, we can continue to enjoy their presence for years to come.