Often, the hope of visitors to our nation's state and national parks is to glimpse wildlife in its natural environment. But on occasion, those wild animals can act just that, leading to unpredictable behavior that may puts people in harm's way.
Hikers in Utah found themselves in such a precarious situation when they stumbled upon a pair of moose during the rut, a.k.a. mating season. This video captured by Colt VanCampen near Silver Lake in Brighton, Utah, in September 2022 shows hikers standing along the edge of a field with a bull moose violently kicking and flailing about, all while chasing down a very disinterested calf. At one point, the bull hurtles toward the onlookers, sending the small crowd running for the hills.
The video was shared recently on TouronsofNationalParks, an Instagram page much like TouronsofYellowstone, that focuses on showcasing park patrons' misguided or bad behavior while spending time inside America's national parks. In this case, the hikers actions fall on the former side of the pendulum. While witnessing a bull moose display his masculine prowess is a sight to behold, it's not something you want to stand by and observe for too long. In all fairness, these hikers may have thought that staying put was the best choice for the situation, but it could have had an adverse affect, angering the animal even more.
The best thing to do if you ever find yourself too close to a moose? Back away slowly, then head the opposite direction. The National Park Service recommends that park visitors—and nature lovers everywhere—keep at least 100 yards in between themselves and wild animals such as deer, moose, and elk. During the rut especially, bull moose can be very aggressive and unpredictable. Thankfully, this moose settled for a showy display, instead of charging.
