Life in Alaska seems… different. For instance, a routine trip to Costco might mean encountering an unexpected, rather curious guest in the form of a giant moose. That doesn’t typically happen where I’m from. Actually, it never does, and it never will.
But as we see in this video, although potentially caught off guard, this was not this woman’s first time experiencing something like this. Her tone leads me to believe encounters like this might actually be common. What do you think?
@sharingalaskaThis local was caught by surprise in the Costco parking lot by a #moose trying to check out her groceries! 😳🫎 #SharingAlaska by Amber Rotar #Alaska #wildlife #onlyinalaska
I love how she just casually says, “Scooch… no ears back, buddy, just scooch.” It’s like a pet parent talking to their stubborn little pup or something.
Related: Alaskan Man Feeding a Moose Outside His Door Is Living the Dream
Personally, I wouldn’t know what to do in a situation like this, but apparently you just stay calm and politely tell it to move along? I can’t imagine going to Costco, spending hundreds of dollars on items, and having a moose start eating everything I just bought as I try to load it into my car. I know that’s not what happened… but the potential was there. Scooch!
How to stay safe when encountering a moose
More and more moose seem to be becoming more familiar (and generally less afraid) of humans as the years go by, especially in areas of the country where humans and moose naturally coexist.
However, if you encounter a moose, there are some universal tips out there that will help keep you and these majestic creatures safe, the most important being: always give the moose a lot of space.
From a safe distance, you’ll want to monitor its behavior to basically feel out the vibe, so to speak. Is it angry? Defensive? Unfazed? Passing by? Regardless, your best bet is to simply leave it alone and stay calm. And more importantly, don’t just start frantically running away—they’re faster than most folks realize.
Instead, try to talk, make noise, and ultimately make your presence known. Then you can slowly back away in the direction you came.
You never want to try to approach a moose to feed it, either. There might be funny TikTok videos out in the world of folks feeding moose, or having gentle encounters with them, but you have to remember they’re wild animals and are extremely unpredictable. You’re better safe than sorry.
If you have animals with you, like your pup for instance, you want to keep them leashed and under control at all times. In fact, in some states, it’s actually against the law to allow dogs to chase or harass protected hoofed wildlife, like moose. Just something to keep in mind!
You might be asking: “Well, what if a moose charges at me anyways?” The best thing to do is hide behind something solid (like a tree or a big rock… whatever is around that makes sense) or try to get inside a vehicle or building as quickly as possible. I know I said “don’t run” but this is a different circumstance entirely.
“In my years of working with wildlife, I have dealt with bears, rattlesnakes, cougars and moose, and the only species that I’ve had turn and come back at me was a moose,” DWR Wildlife Section Chief Covy Jones said. “People often underestimate how aggressive they can be.”
“Like with most wildlife, if you give moose plenty of space and don’t try to get too close, it will help keep you and them safe,” Jones adds. “Our biologists relocate numerous moose in urban areas every year, and we really want people to admire these amazing animals from a distance and stay safe.”
The woman in this video obviously did the right thing by keeping a cool and calm composure. But again, this wasn’t her first rodeo. An experience like this can be pretty terrifying for a first-timer, but as long as you keep some of these tips in mind, you’ll be fine.
Just stay calm, let your presence be known… and tell that thing to scooch on outta there!
