Generally, in BASE jumping, you feel a lot safer once you’ve successfully landed. Everything worked out, you’re uninjured, and you’re ready to send it another day.
This recent jump from Sean Dame went a little differently than most. Instead of landing, celebrating his success, and working to put away his chute, Dame came face to face with multiple moose including a mother, several calves, and a bull. It was the rare case where fear grows significantly after landing, rather than while jumping.
Moose aren’t normally agressive, but they can become dangerous quickly if provoked. If harassed by people, dogs, or traffic, or when they’re hungry/tired, moose can charge. Often times these charges are just bluffs, but people can be seriously injured when the massive animals charge, stomp, and kick to protect themselves or their young. Always give moose plenty of space, and never wait to see if the animal is just bluffing or actually charging. Run and get behind something solid or retreat to a safe space.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife Moose Viewing Guidelines:
- Find a high spot that looks down into drainages for an​ excellent vantage point.
- Drive slowly along logging roads on national forest lands that parallel drainages.
- ​Look for moose sign—large tracks, droppings, browsed willows—along the edges of willow bottoms and aspen or pine forests. Moose tracks are very large and often show dewclaws (a rudimentary claw or small hoof not reaching the ground) in snow or mud.
- Listen for moose sounds, which are limited to grunting, with bulls being the most vocal during the mating season.
- Realize moose do not herd into large groups as do many species of big game, even in winter. They prefer to travel in small family groups or to remain secluded.
- A good place to view them is near the water, as moose are excellent swimmers and are very much at home in the water.
- Never approach moose too closely. Watch and photograph from safe distances using telephoto lenses, binoculars and spotting scopes.
- Move slowly and not directly at them. Back off if they exhibit signs of aggression.
