The Magazine of The Sierra Club
Moose Romance
You come between a bull moose and his intended. Now what?
I was on a long trail run in Utah's Wasatch Range. After crossing a knife-edge ridge, I decided not to push it and headed down a drainage toward Lake Blanche. Coming from Colorado, I was used to bears but not prepared for an encounter with Bullwinkle.
ASK THE EXPERT
Matt Heid is the author of the Appalachian Mountain Club's Best Backpacking Trips in New England.
"If a moose approaches you, it's generally trying to drive you off because it sees you as a threat. In most situations, retreat immediately. The bull moose here appeared to be pursuing the female, increasing Sallie's danger, since males often act more aggressively at such times. While Sallie should have left the scene earlier (as best as her injury allowed), she did the right thing by moving away at the next available opportunity."
