An Alaska man’s photography trip took a tragic turn when he tried to take photos of two newborn moose calves.
Dale Choman, 70, was kicked to death by the mother moose he rescued and was later pronounced dead at the scene, while his unnamed companion escaped unharmed.
“The cow moose attacked Dale as he was walking through the brush looking for the moose,” said Austin McDaniel with the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
Although moose are not known to be particularly aggressive under normal circumstances, they are very protective when humans get too close.
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File – Moose in the bush. (Steve Naef/Denver Post via Getty Images)
A typical female elk weighs about 800 pounds, while a male elk weighs about 1,600 pounds. Moose are known to use potentially deadly methods of attack, including kicking and stomping.
“Moose calving season is a time when you absolutely want to give them extra space … Moose with calves are going to be some of the more aggressive moose that you’re going to come into contact with,” McDaniel said.
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Taunting a moose or approaching a cow moose with a calf has had dangerous consequences in the past. In a 1995 incident on the grounds of the University of Alaska Anchorage, a group of students provoked a cow moose and its calf, harassing them for hours by throwing snowballs at them. A 71-year-old man, who was not involved, tried to walk past the agitated moose and was trampled to death.
File – Wild Colorado Elk. (Wayne D. Lewis/Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
Alaska is home to 200,000 moose, and there are between five and 10 moose attacks a year in the state, but they are usually not fatal. Collisions with moose on roads are a much more common and serious threat to humans, and the large size of moose poses a significant threat to life and property.
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Alaska State Troopers said in an online post that the cow moose is no longer in the area. Moose calving season typically lasts from mid-May until mid-June, making it an especially good time for humans to avoid close contact with the giant ungulates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
