Moose Safety Tips for Children:
- With young children, keep them near at all times so they don’t walk or run ahead and come across a moose. Remind older children to be on the lookout for moose.
- When hiking, skiing or recreating in moose country, make a “family sandwich” with adults on both ends and kids in the middle. This is a good safety point for bears too.
- Talk to your children about wildlife safety from an early age. Make it part of your family discussions about safety. Be age appropriate. Let children know this is a serious topic.
- Brush up on your wildlife safety knowledge every year, and continue to learn. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game website has a wealth of information on “Living with Wildlife” in Alaska.
- If you live in an area with frequent sightings of bears, wolves or moose, it is appropriate for you to accompany your children to the bus stop or on their walk to and from school.
- Practice observation skills. Be aware of wildlife signs. Be aware, unplug!
- Always observe a safe distance from wild animals. Many people forget about this when it comes to moose in particular. Never approach a wild animal, even if the animal doesn’t appear to be aggressive.
- If a moose is blocking your way, never try to get the moose to move. Leave the moose alone and make a wide detour around the moose. Or go back the way you came and find a different route.
- Help children understand that it is appropriate to run from a moose, but never from a bear. If charged by a moose, you should walk quickly or run and find something to hide behind, even a small tree. Keep something between yourself and the moose.
Learn more about moose at www.wildlife.alaska.gov.
