An Alaskan man has been killed by a moose that charged suddenly while he was trying to take photographs of its two calves.
Dale Chorman, 70, was caught off guard as the animal attacked on his property in the town of Homer.
His son said he realised the moose was protecting its offspring and did not want the animal killed.
Moose attacks are rare but the animals can become aggressive if provoked.
A cow moose is typically very protective of its young and will attack if a human gets too close
Moose are the largest of the deer family and the Alaska moose is the largest of its kind.
It can grow to nearly six feet (182cm) tall and females can be as heavy as 57 stone (362kg).
In Alaska, there are roughly as many deaths/injuries resulting from contact with moose in any given year as there are deaths/injuries from bears in any given decade.
If you see a moose with a calf nearby, stay away.
If you can’t stay away, make a lot of noise so they know where you are. It’s not like they’re hunting humans, they want to stay away from us. And don’t hang out between the cow and calf.
Yes. You should probably also be aware that if you see a calf the cow is probably also nearby even if you can’t see it.
Bulls can also be very territorial and aggressive during rut, which typically occurs in mid-August through early October.
Alaskan moose are the second largest terrestrial mammal on the continent and will defend themselves and their young from any perceived threat with potentially deadly force.
Which is not to say that the death of the man in the article is any less tragic, but with Alaskan tourist season coming up and the fact that Anchorage has the world’s largest population of urban moose, it’s worth reminding people to treat the wildlife with the respect that it deserves.
How can you be that oblivious to danger?
Well, that’s a real shame. Heart goes out to the family. He’ll of a way to go. Anyway, can we see the photos?
