An adult moose can weigh over 2,000lb and move at speeds up to 25mph, so you don't want to get on their bad side – especially not for a photo. On a recent visit to , one hiker filming a herd of moose in Round Prairie was surprised to spot two of the huge animals chasing after a park visitor who had chosen to get a little too close, and was sprinting to escape. Moose attacks are rare, but the animals can charge if they or their young are threatened, and are particularly likely to lash out if dogs are nearby since they cannot differentiate between a domestic dog and a wolf.
This particular incident was captured by and shared this week via Instagram account , which calls out careless behavior at US National Parks, often involving wildlife. Other close calls have included people , , and even , all of which are federal crimes punishable by a hefty fine or even jail time. The (NPS) warns visitors that animals at Yellowstone are wild and can be unpredictable, no matter how calm they may seem in the moment.
The best and safest place to view them is from within a car, and you should always stay at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from bison, moose and elk. Moose are naturally more inclined to be inquisitive rather than aggressive, but they can attack people if they feel threatened, with serious consequences. They tend to react particularly strongly around dogs, which they see as wolves.
Last year, a woman was charged and knocked down by a cow moose while walking her dog in the Rocky .
