Featured Video: Moose Encounter

According to Facebook’s translation of the Norwegian description of this video, it says:

The king of the forest was in a bad mood today and made sure we had to take a detour home.

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Which means they made it home. So that’s good.

Are you supposed to turn and run when a moose is coming toward you? According to this article from the Appalachian Mountain Club, here’s what you should do if you encounter a moose on the trail.

Keep your distance. If you stay far enough away and stand still, the moose will most likely wander off on its way. If the moose seems agitated by your presence, you’re too close.
Keep keeping your distance. If the moose starts to walk toward you, the AMC says to back away, and if it charges, run. If you’re on horseback, it’s probably better to start with the turning and leaving the scene rather than asking your already nervous horse to back down the trail. On the plus side, your horse has a better chance of outrunning a moose than a hiker on foot. Generally, moose will only chase you until you’re out of their immediate area, then they’ll back off.
Avoid confrontation. If a moose is calmly hanging out on the trail, don’t try to go around or scare it off. You either have to wait it out or find a new path. Respect the moose.

I feel like we’ve all learned something today.

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Leslie Potter

Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky. Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.

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View Comments

PKL says:

August 31, 2016 at 5:16 am

It's bad enough encountering deer, I think a moose would be worst.
Marion says:

August 31, 2016 at 5:37 am

Yep, try to leave the best way you can! Momma moose can be very protective!
molly says:

August 31, 2016 at 7:22 pm

haha, great clip! id be sceard out of my whits too!
Anne says:

September 1, 2016 at 3:58 am

Oh Boy, turn tail and run for it! With that rack, it could get ugly! Hope this rider made it out of there!
Sherry says:

September 2, 2016 at 5:41 am

Whoa, yep turn around and head for the hills! Hope she outran that moose!
Gee and Haw says:

September 2, 2016 at 5:48 am

I would turn tail and runnnnnnnnn too, and fassssssst.
Alicia says:

September 3, 2016 at 5:36 am

Oh My, we only have deer and bears! Bears are bad! But a Moose! Oh My!
Marion says:

September 4, 2016 at 5:41 am

I think this is worse than the bear I encountered years ago! My mare stopped and I was like, what's your problem. Then I saw it, a big black bear! We turned tail and ran the trail out of there!
cc says:

September 8, 2016 at 6:46 am

I would run faster than my horse.
Allyson says:

September 10, 2016 at 8:08 am

A number of years ago I watched an interview of a woman (I think it was Susan Butcher) who won the Iditarod and was asked what animal do you least want to see on the trail? Without hesitation she said "moose." They will trample the dogs and are totally unpredictable.