Moose Spring To Life
For as pretty and as sought after as the state animal may be, moose can present quite the problem for Mainers. Growing upwards of nine feet and weighing nearly 1,600 pounds, moose may be a joy to look at, but certainly not to run into.
With an estimated 30,000 moose in the state, second only to Alaska, and with no real system of keeping them off the road, it’s little wonder why there are approximately 700 moose related accidents annually in Maine.
After a bland winter diet, moose are drawn to the roadside at the first signs of spring, where they find a mixture of greens in wetlands and remnants of salt left from the season passed. Due to their dark fur moose are difficult to see at night, and with spindly legs and a powerful torso, if a car strikes one head-on it’s likely to break the animal’s legs and send the body crashing through the windshield.
Even though the vast majority of moose reside in northern Maine, it is advised to be cautious wherever you drive. While there may be less moose in the southern part of the state, there is however more congestion, meaning the likelihood of a moose causing an accident is increased.
In regard to public safety, the Maine Department of Transportation offers the following tips for driving during peak moose season:
- Be alert from dawn to dusk. That’s when the majority of moose related accidents occur.
- Use high beams whenever permitted.
- Reduce speed and scan the roadside when driving at night.
- Take notice of any warning signs such as moose crossing signs or the reflection or shadows of animals.
- Expect to see other moose when you see one, as they often travel in families.
- If a moose is stopped in the road, do not get out of your car. Give the moose room and it will eventually return to the woods.
- If an accident is unavoidable, apply brakes and release just before contact, and aim for the tail end of the moose. Duck to minimize injury from windshield debris.
Although there are significantly more car accidents that don’t involve moose, moose related accidents are often unavoidable and fatal. So the next time you’re out driving, act like a tourist and be on the lookout for Maine’s beloved state animal, knowing full well it could save your life.
For more information on moose related accidents please visit:
http://www.maine.gov/mdot/safety-programs/pdf/moose_brochure_2004.pdf.
