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When you picture a dangerous animal in
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the wild, what comes to mind? A bear? A
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wolf? What if I told you that one of the
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most dangerous animals you could
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encounter in North America is actually
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the moose? That's right. These seemingly
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gentle giants can be incredibly
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aggressive and are responsible for more
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attacks on humans than bears and wolves
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combined. Welcome back to Wild but True
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with your host, Malcolm Walker. So, what
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makes a moose so dangerous? Well, for
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starters, they are massive. A fully
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grown bull moose can stand over 6 feet
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tall at the shoulder and weigh up to
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1,500 lb. That's like a small car with
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antlers. Speaking of antlers, a bull's
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rack can span 6 feet wide. These aren't
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just for show. They are formidable
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weapons. But it's not just the bulls you
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need to watch out for. Cow moose,
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especially mothers with their calves,
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are fiercely protective and will not
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hesitate to charge if they feel their
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young are threatened. Most moose attacks
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happen because people get too close.
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They see a moose, think it's a great
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photo opportunity, and underestimate the
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animals personal space. A moose doesn't
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need much provocation to feel
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threatened. They might give you warning
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signs like laying their ears back,
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raising the long hairs on their neck, or
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smacking their lips. If you see a moose
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doing this, it's not trying to be
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friendly. It's telling you to back away
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slowly and calmly. Don't run. Running
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can trigger their chase instinct. And
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trust me, you can't outrun a moose. They
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can charge at speeds up to 35 mph. The
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best thing to do is to give them plenty
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of space. If you're hiking in moose
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country, make noise so you don't
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surprise one. Keep your dog on a leash
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as a dog can agitate a moose and cause
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it to charge you both. If you do find
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yourself charged by a moose, try to get
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behind a large object like a big tree, a
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car, or a building. Unlike a bear, a
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moose will usually stop its attack once
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it feels the threat is gone. So, while
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they are magnificent creatures to
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behold, always remember to admire them
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from a safe distance. Respecting their
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space isn't just for their well-being,
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it's for your own safety. Thanks for
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watching, and if you found this video
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helpful, be sure to like and subscribe
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for more wildlife facts. Stay safe out
