Safety and Education—Moose Safety

DEC recently closed Goodman Mountain in the town of Tupper Lake due to the presence of a bull moose observed over an extended period of time. Many of the quintessential wild animals of the Adirondacks are majestic, but still “wild,” and can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous when approached or startled. This temporary closure is a precautionary measure to protect public safety and minimize disturbances to the animal.

Here are some tips to stay safe when hiking should you encounter wildlife like moose or bears:

1. Don’t hike with headphones. Keep your eyes and ears open to pay close attention to your surroundings. Moose especially can be silent, and invisible as their brown fur blends in with the forest so well.
2. Although a quietly camouflaging moose may startle you, be mindful that you don’t startle wildlife. When hiking alone, it’s wise to make some noise every now and then (like by clapping your hands loudly) to prevent startling a bear. If the bear knows you’re there, it will likely skedaddle.
3. With any wild animal that you encounter, your first step should be to back away to create more distance. This is especially true if the animal is with its young as they are more likely to be aggressive when protecting their offspring.
4. After creating distance, how you react should depend on the animal.
   • If it’s a black bear who notices you, get big by raising your arms and talk in a loud voice if the bear is approaching you to scare it off.
   • Moose, however, are more likely to stand their ground than a bear, so avoid behaving in a threatening way- instead just keep moving away from the moose and talk softly.
5. If you’re being charged at:
   • If a black bear is charging at you, don’t run. This can trigger the bear’s instincts to chase. Instead, get big and loud and consider banging pots and pans if camping or blowing a bear whistle to scare the bear off. Bears are easily frightened by people.
   • But if a moose is charging at you, you can run. Moose are herbivores so they don’t have the same instinctual urge to chase. However, avoiding getting to that point is the most important, by remaining calm and creating distance so that the moose does not feel threatened enough to charge you to begin with.

No matter what form of outdoor recreation you’re partaking in, Hike Smart NY can help you prepare with a list of 10 essentials, guidance on what to wear, and tips for planning your trip with safety and sustainability in mind.