Moose sightings on the rise

20, three moose stopped just outside Patty Williams' patio door. Patty snapped a quick picture on her phone, and despite the early morning light and fog captured quite the image.

These seemingly oversized members of the deer family are common in the aspen forests of the Rockies and the hardwood forests of Great Lakes states- well into Canada and Alaska. In the past several decades, they have made their way into North Dakota and are quite comfortable calling the prairies woodlands "home."

In a 2018 January North Dakota "Outdoors" article, Ty Stockton explained how the population of moose took hold in the Pembina Hills in the 1960s, and dispersed into the Turtle Mountains and Lone Tree Wildlife Management area. In more recent years, North Dakota's moose population has expanded west to the Upper Missouri River and Williston.

Given this great parade of the magnificent creatures, the chances that any one of us might encounter a moose (or three) is also increasing. Stockton says, "Most people in North Dakota enjoy seeing moose, and it is a good thing that their population is expanding. It's important to remember that they are wild animals and should only be observed from a distance."

From a distance moose can be mesmerizing, with their awkward gait, lanky body and overly bulbous nose. They are strange, endearing and some even say cute. They are also dangerous. "The key to coexisting with moose is to avoid confrontations by giving moose plenty of space," says Stockton.

In states such as Alaska and Colorado, people often live in close proximity to moose and most know the risks of living alongside of these creatures. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports, "While moose are generally perceived to be less dangerous than bears, more people in Alaska are injured by moose than by bears each year."

It's not that moose are particularly aggressive in nature, it's that they can become surprisingly dangerous when threatened or stressed. At more than 1,000 pounds, an adult moose can do impressive damage just by charging, stomping and kicking.

Here are some tips and considerations, courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Moose have a deeply ingrained fear of wolves, and while wolves are scarce these days, dogs are not. When a moose encounters a dog, on the trail or in your backyard, its response is to fight. Never let your dog bark or chase a moose and always scan your yard before letting your animals outside.

Moose are easily stressed. In the winter they may be hungry or tired from walking the deep snow. In the spring and summer, cow moose with young calves are very protective and will attack humans who come to close. If you see a calf on its own, you may find yourself separating the calf from its mother. In the fall season moose are in rut and may also be stressed by hunting activity.

When you see a moose in close proximity, observe its body language. Be aware that the animal might attack when the long hairs on its hump are raised and ears are laid back. A moose walking towards you is warning you to keep away.

If a moose displays any of these behaviors, run and get behind something solid like a tree or retreat to a building or car. They won't attack what they can't see. If a moose knocks you down, it may start stomping and kicking with all four feet. Curl up in a ball, protect your head with your hands, and hold still. Do not move or try to get up until the moose moves in a safe distance away .

If a moose is bedded up near your home, it is just trying to rest. Avoid approaching or trying to chase them away, this will only cause agitation. Be patient, the moose will move away in time. It may take an hour or more, but it is worth the wait. If you have to get past, keep something between you and the moose, like a tree, snowberm, vehicle or fence.

Finally, it is never okay to feed a moose. Feeding moose, or any wild animal for that matter, almost always does more harm than good. Moose that are fed by humans may act aggressively when they are not fed as expected.

Stay safe and enjoy these creatures from a distance.