Moose are the largest land mammals in Norway, weighing over 1,700 pounds. The large animals are built for the winter, reacting little to temperatures as cold as -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 degrees Celsius), and somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 moose are born in Norway every year.
While moose aren’t typically agressive, they need to be given plenty of space at all times for the sake of safety. They pose a fairly large threat to drivers, too, and signs that there are moose in the area need to be taken seriously, as this driver learned the hard way.
As moose and other wildlife are common in Norway, knowing how to handle a collision can be quite necessary. Especially at dawn and dusk, elk and reindeer might jump or walk into the roads from heavily wooded areas, leading to collisions. Read more on what to do if there’s a moose in the road below:
Maine DOT Guidelines For Moose In The Road:
If you see a moose standing in or near the roadway, use extreme caution, especially during mating season from August through October.
- 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. By getting out of the car, you put 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.
Believe it or not! What at first appears to be a gentle, lumbering moose will suddenly charge a car, then stride quietly away.