Messin' With Moose

When you’re blazing your own trail in Utah’s backwoods, or following a well-worn path in the foothills, wildlife is always a concern. You could come face to face with any number of dangerous creatures: snakes, badgers, bears, cougars, etc. There are also a few animals that are a pleasant surprise: deer, turkeys, lizards, hoot owls, etc. The moose seems to be caught in the middle of the two categories. Its large antlers and horse-like face lend the moose a comical aura, one might even say cartoonish (maybe I only think that because I watched too much “Rocky and Bullwinkle” growing up). Its pure weight and size, though, demand respect. And so the moose continues to be one of those animals that people delight in seeing, but from a safe distance.
Moose tend to mind their own business, but can turn into a veritable wrecking crew when threatened. Female moose (cows) can weigh in around 700 lbs., which is considerable, but male moose (bulls) can easily weigh twice that amount. Add a four-and-a-half foot antler span to that weight and you’ve got an all-natural bulldozer. If you’ve ever seen a pack of wolves take on one bull, you know that all the bull has to do is sweep its antlers from side to side and the wolves are sent flying like a flock of geese. And don’t count a cow out, just because she’s antlerless. What she lacks in weaponry, she more than makes up for in sheer motherly protective instincts.
During a fishing trip in the Uintahs, my friends and I spotted a large, brown mound about a quarter-mile from where we were fishing. After a few minutes of trying to figure out what it was, the brown mound lifted its head and we immediately knew that we were in the presence of a well-endowed bull moose. Though fascinating to behold, we realized that a little more distance between us and the bull would be prudent. We moved far enough away that we could still see him, yet not worry about the bull charging unexpectedly. At one point, I needed to return to our vehicle and retrieve a lure, and on my way I heard a loud crashing noise coming through the trees toward me. I panicked, thinking the bull moose had somehow gotten near without any of us noticing. Before I could even turn back to begin running from the oncoming juggernaut, a large snout appeared twenty yards in front and slightly to the right of me. One second later, a second, smaller snout appeared. I quickly realized that neither snout had antlers attached to the top of its head. It was a cow moose with her calf. Luckily the mama and her baby hadn’t seen me as they calmly rumbled past me. Things could have gotten ugly had she wanted to view me as a threat to her baby.
Moose are not very aggressive, despite their intimidating size and features. There are a few triggers, though, that will cause a moose to feel threatened and take violent measures. Like most animals, moose enjoy their privacy and any breach of their personal space can result in the moose charging. Given enough starting distance, a person can usually run away from an angry moose without the moose pursuing him or her. Moose don’t want to kill humans, mostly because they can’t digest us, but they will defend themselves if humans, or any other animals, harass them. Stay away from moose during mating season (September to October), and never come between a mama and her baby. If you really want to see a moose up close and personal, and the zoo just won’t cut it, buy some binoculars. A moose in its natural habitat truly is a majestic sight.