TABLE TIPS Moose on the Loose Tips to stay safe while driving around Northern New England in the fall

Moose. Their name comes from the Algonquin Native American word "moosewa," meaning "eater of twigs." They are northern New England's largest land mammal. They are beautiful, mysterious, elusive prehistoric creatures that have been walking the earth for over 100,000 years. While it is always incredibly exciting to spot moose, they are extremely hazardous if they happen to lumber onto the highway in the path of your oncoming vehicle. There are about 500 collisions with moose each year in northern New England, according to a study published by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. These encounters are particularly dangerous because these massive animals can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds when fully grown (and stand about 6-7 feet tall) and will do extensive damage to your car and everyone in it should you hit one going full speed. What makes hitting a moose particularly lethal is what happens on impact: When a car hits a moose, it usually strikes its legs, sending that whole 1,000 to 1,500 weight onto the windshield of a car. It then can bounce onto the car's roof, causing more damage to the vehicle and its occupants. Also cited in the study are the severe and sometimes fatal injuries sustained by drivers and occupants. Colliding with a moose is more likely to result in human fatalities than colliding with a deer because of the enormous height and weight of the animal. Moose collisions often happen because, despite their enormous size, they are hard for drivers to see on the road, especially in the early morning and at night when moose are the most active. One characteristic that makes them hard to spot is their legs: they are very long (about four feet tall). Some people who report hitting a moose (and survived) say they thought for a moment before impact that there were trees in the middle of the road and realized (too late) that those "trees" were actually the moose's four legs! Also, drivers can't rely on any reflective quality of a moose's coat or eyes to warn them of impact; their coats are dark and tend not to reflect a car's headlights, and their eyes are too high up to catch any light to reflect back. Adding to the danger, moose are unafraid of headlights and, unlike deer, won't run from an approaching vehicle, even if you honk. That's because moose rarely respond to danger by fleeing but instead prefer to stand their ground, even in the face of a fast-moving car. Moose behavior can be unpredictable as well. For instance, a moose can be calmly standing by the side of the road and abruptly dart out. BRAKE FOR MOOSE So, how can you avoid moose collisions? We don't recommend you stay off our northern New England roads altogether (think of the beauty you'll miss, especially during fall foliage!). Still, there are some points to keep in mind when driving through Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont that can help you avoid a moose collision. Moose collisions happen most often between May through November, during the breeding season between mid-September and mid-October (which coincides with peak foliage season). While collisions happen at all times of the day and night, most collisions occur at dusk and dawn. The Maine Department of Transportation provides these tips: Slow down. Do not try to drive around the moose. Stay in your vehicle. Do not get out to observe or to chase it off the road. Getting out of the car puts yourself and other drivers at risk. Moose can be unpredictable and may attack your vehicle. Give moose plenty of room and let them wander back off the road. What at first appears to be a gentle, slow-moving, lumbering moose can suddenly charge a car and then stride quietly away. If a crash is imminent, apply the brakes and steer straight. Let up on the brakes just before impact to allow the front of your vehicle to rise slightly and aim to hit the moose's tail end. This can reduce the risk of the animal striking the windshield area and may increase your chances of missing it. Duck down to protect yourself from windshield debris. So, if you see a moose, slow down, or stop if necessary, until you have passed it or it has left the road. Remember: Brake for Moose ... It Can Save Your Life (as those bumper stickers say!) For more information about moose (and to hear what a moose sounds like. Hint: it's not musical or pretty!), visit gomoose.com/moosefacts.php#honk SIDEBARs: MOOSE POPULATION AT RISK According to the Appalachian Mountain Club website, recent estimates of the Northern New England states' moose population is about 70,000-80,000, with Maine having the largest population in the region, with about 60,000-70,000. (Alaska has the largest moose population in the U.S., according to Alaska Fish and Game with about 175,000-200,000 spread across the state.) The Appalachian Mountain Club notes that the moose population has dropped recently because of the explosive increase in winter ticks because of climate change. A single moose can be infested with more than 100,000 ticks in a single season. According to a State of New Hampshire Fish and Game report, " ... climate change benefits winter ticks by resulting in later onset of winter (more time for larvae to find a host) and earlier loss of snowpack in the spring (adult female winter ticks develop more eggs)." According to the Journal of Wildlife Management, "...these changes in winter tick–moose relationships could have detrimental impacts on the health of individual moose and eventually on moose population dynamics." Note: According to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, these winter ticks are a one-host species that are mostly found on moose. Humans rarely get winter ticks, and they do not carry diseases that are transmissible to humans. MOOSE VIEWING TIPS The Forest Conservancy offers these tips on viewing moose: *&emsp;&emsp;Your best chance to see moose is active during the day and most active at dusk and dawn. * Moose are very curious and are not afraid to approach humans. But don't be fooled into thinking you can pet one. When they feel threatened in any way they will charge. * Stay a safe distance away (at least 200 feet), and stay behind a large object such as a tree or boulder. The object is for camouflage and will give you some protection if the moose feels provoked and charges. Remember: Moose are fast (they can run up to 35 miles per hour) and can outrun you. They can also outswim you: They can dive to depths of 20 feet and swim for up to 10 hours. * &emsp;&emsp;Do not allow dogs or horses near moose. Moose can be aggressive around other animals. *&emsp;&emsp;Know the signs of an aggressive moose: bulging eyes, making eye contact with you, laid back ears, lowered head, swaying back and forth, licking its snout. And if the hairs on the back of its neck and shoulders stand up, a charge is imminent. * &emsp;If you are threatened by a moose, stay calm; do not run away. Talk, make your presence known and slowly back off in the direction you came. * &emsp;If you are charged by a moose, run fast for cover. If knocked down, get up and run for cover. Best Places to Spot a Moose Moose Alley • Route 3 from Pittsburg, NH, to the Canadian border Route 26 • The 11 miles along Route 26 between Errol, NH and Dixville Notch State Park, NH Island Pond • Island Pond, VT Quabbin Reservoir • Ware, MA