It's a sculpture.
But if you ever were to hit one of these, say on the Maine Turnpike going about 70 MPH, you're probably dead. Run-ins with moose are usually lethal. In the collision, the front bumper will break their legs, and because of their height (ave. 6ft 6in. at shoulders), they will slide across the hood, smash through the windshield and crush the occupants. Not a pretty picture at all. They are drawn to roadways in winter to lick the salt that is deposited to melt the snow and ice. Maine does have a controversial moose hunting season used to thin the herd. Other than hunters, bears and wolves are its natural predators. A sighting is quite amazing. I've seen them traveling the Golden Road in the Great North Woods and hiking in Baxter State Park on my way up Mt. Katahdin. They are quite a majestic animal when seen in the wild. FACT. I have had an actual run-in with a cow (female) on Running Hill Road in Scarborough back a few years. It was just after dusk and luckily my headlights lit up her eyes and I braked. She slid across my front bumper and was knocked to the ground. She got up and ambled off into the woods. My car went sideways and ended up off in a ditch. I forgot to mention my 'sighting' to Elenka that night, and the next morning she asked what happened to the front of her Honda. "What are you talking about?" I said. I went out and looked. The bumper and parts of the hood of her car were covered with moose hair.
Whew!
That was my close call.
Word of caution here.
Driving at night in our state?
Drive defensively.
Very scary! I have been hit by a deer but, thankfully, never a moose.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a close call. My best moose sighting was on one of the Rangley Lakes, we in canoes, the moose & her young one peacefully eating long slurpy pond grass. Very different than head-on in a road. We're always aware of them on the way to Quebec. Here on a stretch of route 1 there are electric warning signs at certain times of the year. I just figured out your question & then got your note: No, I won't be participating at Art in the Park. But come down to the Wed. Farmer's Market where I'll be with the MECA sketching workship, probably after 11AM...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like excellent advice. I've not run into one of these guys on the road but I did have a pair come ambling through my camp site many years ago. You are right, they are majestic.
ReplyDeleteThis is scary stuff. I'd love to see a moose someday, but not on the road.
ReplyDeleteSo they come to the winter roads as salt licks?? Wow, I never realized that.
Here in the Negev drivers die after hitting camels.
You were sooo lucky!
ReplyDeleteI remember looking for moose in Fundy National Park. Saw plenty of "signs" but no moose, not even "moose hair". :-)
ReplyDeleteThat was a close call. I had three young buck white-tail deer run right across the road in front of me a couple of days ago. They are dangerous enough but I would never want to encounter a moose. I also understand they can be quite dangerous if you encounter them in the wild.
ReplyDeleteI definitely don't want a run in with one of these guys. They are beautiful animals though.
ReplyDeleteThe collision you describe definitely would not be a smashing hit for either the moose or the driver. I agree that they are majestic; Saw one once and was impressed!
ReplyDeleteI'm always terrified of wild encounters when driving in the PNW, especially at night.
ReplyDeleteWhew! You were lucky!
ReplyDeleteGlad that moose wasn't the one with your name on it!
ReplyDeleteI'll remember your advice later this week and next. You'll see why.
ReplyDeleteThat's a scary prospect Birdman, here we have the same problem on country roads except with kangaroos.
ReplyDeleteYou may be hit by almost everything here, but not by a moose...
ReplyDeleteI've never had a run-in with a moose, but narrowly avoided a herd of elk once. Their eyes reflected gold in the headlights, and I hit the brakes stopping just feet away from them. They wandered off into the woods while I just sat there shaking. Deer are the night driving hazard around here. Their major predators are Ford, GM, and Chrysler.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them often up in Algonquin Park.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we have elk here - bigger than deer - deer are more common and not typically as deadly. The encounters with wildlife you describe aren't the sort I'd care for.
ReplyDeleteI know how deadly a collision with a moose can be, so I am very alert driving up in the north country. So far, I have been lucky and haven't hit anything. Heck, I don't want to hurt them.
ReplyDelete