Moose charges at woman at McConnell Lake

But when they came back to the same location the dogs alerted the women that something was there.

“I just thought, well, I’ll just go down the pathway and see,” Froese said. “That’s when I saw the moose, and then the moose came towards me down the path quite aggressively.”

Froese was able to get away by darting into the trees, knowing that moose have poor eyesight.

Conservation Officer Jim Melenka says at this time of the year moose are in the rut, which is their breeding season.

This could have played a part in the aggressive behaviour of the moose Froese encountered.

“If a bull was in the area and pushed the calf away from the cow, the cow might be a little bit more protective of her calf, or locating her calf,” Melenka said.

“And it’s my understanding there was a dog with the ladies this morning, so again it’s pretty typical if wolves and/or coyotes have been harassing these moose, or that moose in particular, when it sees another dog it doesn’t differentiate between dog, wolf, coyote. It just sees that as a threat and will defend itself.”

Melenka says people should always be cautious when they come across a moose, as these powerful animals can be quite dangerous.

“The best thing people can do is make themselves look big, make themselves known, yell at the moose, grab a stick, try to get something between you and that animal and then back away from tree to tree if you have to, or whatever you can use between you and that animal and then get out of the immediate area.”

Melenka says encounters with wildlife should be reported using the RAPP line at 1 (877) 952-7277.

Froese says she has posted a sign warning other hikers of the aggressive moose in the area.

by Jill Sperling

Moose charges at woman at McConnell Lake

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