1.Moose can be very aggressive and unpredictable -
especially bulls in the mating season or cows with their calves. See it as a
natural, normal thing and keep it in mind - they look funny and one might feel like
cuddling them - but they are no toys , but wild animals.
If they lay back the ears and/or their hair on their "hump" stands up
- take care- it is a sign of anger or fear.
2. If encountering a moose -
keep distance. If he charges you, a tip from a Canadian ranger was to find a big tree - you are more mobile than the moose and can run around the tree (who is more stubborn to end this I never tried ...)
3. More tips in case of moose attacks -
Raise the hands and spread the fingers, but keep it still and don't wave - the
moose might see you as a bigger animal and stop attacking
OR
Get down on the ground and keep still and try to cover your head.
Also here - which one works and might be better likely noone can tell. Better don't get into such a
situation.
A day in moose life :
Moose are active throughout the day, but with activity peaks during dawn and dusk.
In case of threat :
When a moose perceives a threat, which mainly derives from heard or smelled
irrutations as the moose has a poor visual sense, he shows usually one of two
reactions:
He can either try to be very calm and silent, standing in the woods and waiting
for the danger to vanish
OR to start running through the woods with head back (in order not
get caught by branches in his way).
Social contacts between moose:
Moose are usually solitary animals not forming permanent groups . This changes for the following reasons:
- During mating season the bulls are quite interested in cows (of course), they
battle with other bulls
- After the mating season "father groups" evolve, continuing
their sparring until the antlers fall off - the time they separate again.
- During winter time they might form into small groups. This is not to be
regarded as social, but a survival behaviour. It mainly happens that "temporary
moose
yards" are made, when the snow is very high and crusty, so their movement is
limited. The temporary group tramples down the crusty snow and by that builds the
"temporary moose yard", not being the same more stable yards
white-tailed deer build.
- Cows keep together with their calves for at least a year, until the next
offspring is coming - the strongest social bond. Then she drives off the calves born last year to have the
energy for the newborn.
Signs of an agitated moose:
- Ears are dropped alongside his head
- The mane is advanced, as well as the hair along the spine
- The moose shows an angry glare
- Bull moose diplay their antlers by dropping their rack and toss their head