With reports spread across the Last Frontier of aggressive moose, officials from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are asking visitors and residents to back off of the local moose population. Like many of us, moose begin to grow tired of the trials and tribulations of winter, causing them to become more aggressive and ornery.
“Moose are just barely making it through winter right now,” said Anchorage Area Wildlife Biologist Dave Battle. “They’re nutritionally stressed, tired, and irritable. We need to keep our distance and by all means, resist the temptation to feed them.”
As the feeding of moose in Alaska is illegal, the department is asking residents to resist the temptation to feed. In addition to public safety, moose do not typically adjust easily to the introduction of new foods and those with a history of unprovoked aggression towards humans will likely be euthanized.
Officials are urging the public to give moose their space where and when encountered and to keep pets indoors or on a leash around moose.
“Moose can act out defensively when they encounter loose dogs,” said Battle, adding that retreating dogs have been known to create dangerous situations by drawing angry moose back to owners.