Moose and bear

What you are dealing with

• A moose is bigger than it looks and it does not move for you. In the rut, late September into October, a bull will come at you, and a cow will run you down over a calf.
• On the road a moose is the real danger at dusk and dawn. Their eyes do not throw headlights back the way a deer does.
• A black bear is nearly always leaving. Food, cubs and surprise are what turn it. There are no grizzlies here.

How

1. Make noise as you travel, in thick country and in berry ground especially.
2. Give any animal room and put a tree or a rock between the two of you.
3. Back away from a moose, keep talking, and never move toward the calf.
4. Stand your ground with a black bear. Get big, talk firm and loud, and back off slow.
5. Never run from either one.
6. Hang or box the food away from camp and cook away from where you sleep.

Watch for

Notes

Nearly all the trouble comes from surprising an animal at close range. Noise costs you nothing.