9th August 2007

Close encounters of the moose kind

posted in Uncategorized |

So.  Moose are apparently somewhat unpredictable.  They can kill people.  The best thing to do is to never, EVER get between a mama moose and her calf.  If a moose lays back its ears, lowers its head, and the hair on its neck starts to rise up, you are in for an aggressive charge.

The idea is to (a) make sure you’re aware ahead of time, so you can angle away from any moose you encounter, taking an alternate route; or (b) take shelter behind a tree or rock or car if the moose is charging; or (c) curl up on the ground and protect your head and neck if the moose has charged and is now kicking you.

I am so happy to learn this.

Some further info and stories:

There you have it, from your intrepid Alaska correspondent.  If you’re ever trapped by a moose, you now have some information on what to do.

Thanks for all the congrats on the new house.  We are busy collecting documents and what-not, to get the mortgage locked in before the entire U.S. mortgage industry comes tumbling down.

For those who are thinking that they aren’t hardy enough for the winters, I will give blow-by-blow reports.  Some folks from Minnesota and one of the Dakotas have claimed to OmegaDad and me that the winters there were much worse than the winters here, for what it’s worth.  I’m thinking the adjustment I will face is the question of 19 hours of darkness, ugh.  Anyone with any knowledge of full-spectrum lamps, and willing to recommend one, feel free to do so in the comments!

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 9th, 2007 at 5:04 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There are currently 8 responses to “Close encounters of the moose kind”

  1. 1 On August 9th, 2007, spacemom said:

    Yikes! We brake for moose down east here! :)

    CONGRATS ON THE HOUSE!!!

  2. 2 On August 9th, 2007, lisa said:

    I found myself between a moose and her calf once out backpacking two summers ago, in a wetland. The only escape route was across a wide creek on a narrow log. I debated a while until I saw her put her ears back, and then I somehow made it across that log swiftly, without falling. Prior to that moment it had never occurred to me to fear a moose.
    I have wanted to live in Alaska since I was 7, and my best friend’s dad was living there, working on the pipeline, coming home every few months full of stories. The limiting factor would definitely be the darkness-if you figure it out please let me know-I might join you! ~lmc

  3. 3 On August 9th, 2007, GrannyJ said:

    Re: lamps — just as you automatically think Google when you want to know, I now think Amazon when there’s a product I need. Amazon has a couple of pages of daylight lamps.

  4. 4 On August 10th, 2007, Jess said:

    Yeah, the dark was the other reason my husband and I laughed at the thought of me in Alaska. I would be impossible.

  5. 5 On August 10th, 2007, lizard said:

    I had a college boyfriend who was from Alaska, and I visited in the summer once. It was so beautiful. So so beautiful.

    He told me all about mooses. stories about moose vs train and train losing (possibly apocryphal) and definitely told me never to get between a moose and her calf– mostly a problem if you are driving and see a moose calf and think “what a lovely photo op” only to discover that you have placed yourself and your car between the calf and mama.

    I think we should change the phrase to “mama moose” instead of mama bear when one is talking about being protective of one’s child.

    good thing you got clear advice.

  6. 6 On August 10th, 2007, Margie said:

    I have to share this with my mom. She and I went to Alaska in 1999, and she returned disappointed that we never saw a moose. This will make her feel a little better.

  7. 7 On August 12th, 2007, Margaret said:

    Gah! Who knew moose were that dangerous?!

    Congrats on the house!

  8. 8 On August 15th, 2007, Donna said:

    I’ve never run into a moose, I’ve seen them on the side of the road on the many journey’s south. My mom actually hunts them with my cousing every fall. My cousin(another younger one)just hit one with her car and luckily walked away with only a fracture in the arm. They are big and scary but easy to see!

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