Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Yes, Virginia, there are moose on the loose in Jasper National Park, and they鈥檙e especially active around the Maligne Lake Road area.
All motorists are advised to be aware of these ungulates 鈥� the largest and heaviest members of the deer family 鈥� and to heed some simple words of caution.
The first words: 鈥渟low down.鈥�
鈥淲e do tend to get them quite regularly on the roads going up there,鈥� said James McCormick human wildlife conflict supervisor with Parks Canada.
鈥淚t's something we do like people to be aware of. If they鈥檙e just coming around the corner, there may be a moose straight in the middle of the road licking salt.鈥�
Moose demonstrate a need to supplement their diets with minerals, including salt. As salt is often used in road management during the winter months, the large animals are naturally drawn to licking the salt off the pavement and off vehicles as well.
鈥淚t is something that's a natural need for animals. I think when the snow covers natural salt licks, they might switch to the roads to get that salt,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey'll come down in and around the road for the rut 鈥� which is mostly wrapped up now 鈥� and then they start licking the salt on the roads. They also use the road as just a travel corridor because, you know, less snow to walk through than offroad.鈥�
Although there isn鈥檛 a firm count of moose in the Maligne Lake Road area, McCormick said that one person reported 13 sightings in one day.
Parks Canada asks people to be aware that it鈥檚 a slippery road and to drive slowly. When moose are approached by moving vehicles, they often can't run away quickly. Since you can't stop as quickly either, there is a much greater risk of a collision with vehicles struggling to stop.
Moose have been hit on Maligne Lake Road, and some have even been killed on both Highway 16 and Highway 93.
An adult male moose can stand up to 2.1 metres at the shoulder and can weigh 700 kilograms, with females (or cows) coming in as much as almost 500 kilograms.
鈥淥bviously an animal that big that's going to come across your windshield is a pretty big risk,鈥� McCormick said.
If you do encounter a moose on the road, slow down and give them space to move off the road. Sometimes they will run down the road trying to get away. In those instances, people are asked to just stop until the animal gets off the road. When moose run, they are expending a lot of energy during a time when they find it challenging already to meet their energy demands. This can be a very stressful situation for them.
鈥淚f they lose that much energy, they might not be able to recover it.鈥�
If they do walk towards you,聽just try and drive slowly around them. Try not to let them lick the salt off your car, McCormick said.
It鈥檚 also important to stay in your vehicle at all times.聽
Parks Canada also asks people to report wildlife sightings as well as unsafe or aggressive human-wildlife interactions to Jasper Dispatch by calling 780-852-6155.
