We are at the beginning of camping and outdoor season in Montana which also means that animals are coming out of hibernation and starting to move around themselves throughout the land and we share the area fairly evenly during peak times in the state.

Get our free mobile app

However, sometimes campgrounds, hiking trails and recreational areas in our national forests may get a little cramped with people and you decide to go off the beaten path and camp or occupy somewhere remote and cozy.

In some of those remote areas you might bump into a Moose.

via GIPHY

They usually find a different place to go if they spot a human, but other times especially when around young, they tend to stand their ground and may attack.

According to visitbigsky.com there are definite signs a moose attack may be immanent.

  • Smacking their lips and clicking their teeth
  • Showing you the whites of their eyes
  • Raising the hair on their neck
  • Urinating
  • Tossing their head
  • Pinning their ears back

They explain the progression of an attack:

In an attack they will often bluff charge first. If they do make contact they will kick with their hooves and trample you - a situation you never want to be a part of!

Make no mistake, moose are not afraid of humans and they will charge if they feel threatened and there are things that one can do in that situation.

  • Give it plenty of space
  • Never walk between a cow and calf(Mother and her young)
  • Don't feed the moose
  • Keep your dog on a leash
  • Walk the other direction and take the long way around

As the creature with "the bigger brain" you can make the decision to take precautions when dealing with wildlife like the wonderful moose so everyone can have an awesome summer, attack-free.

The Difference Between Backpacking And Hiking

Backpacking and hiking must-haves

 

 

More From The River 97.9