Moose Crossing

For those of you planning to sample the wilder portions of this land during the coming holiday season, here is a little cautionary note. Ontario has put up signs in many places that have a picture of a moose at the top. These signs say night danger for so many kilometers. Don't believe them. Oh you can believe the moose part, and the danger part, but don't believe the only at night part.

The power was shut off yesterday to change a transformer, so I decided to take a drive. At about 12:20 in the afternoon I came over the crest of a hill and saw a moose standing in the center of the road. Not being a complete fool I quickly put on my brakes and came to a complete stop well short of the moose. A SUV was coming the other way and also came to a stop, but much closer to the moose. The moose just stood there and looked from one of us to the other, wondering if either of us was going to challenge his right to cross the highway wherever he wanted and when he wanted. Satisfied at last that we were paying him the deference that was his due, he finally ambled of to the side of the road down to the ditch and eventually disappeared into the bush.

Both of us started up, accelerating not particularly fast. I hadn't gone more than ten meters before I saw another moose come out of the bush at the same place as the first. I quickly put on my brakes and came to a stop. The SUV, however kept on going at a few kph. The moose quickly plunged down into the ditch and up onto the shoulder of the road. After a quick look in my direction he fastened his gaze on the SUV. The lack of respect by the SUV was intolerable. Blithely continuing its progress and cutting across in front of him was not to be tolerated. Immediately deciding to punish this transgression by the puny little SUV towing the small trailer, the moose charged straight at its side. Turning sideways the moose rammed its shoulder into he SUV.

Unfortunately for the moose the SUV was better balanced on its stubby little legs than it appeared. Instead of knocking the impudent little thing off its feet, it was the moose that went down, bouncing off in a flurry of legs and hooves. The moose scrambled to its feet, backed off a couple of steps, and paused to consider the results. Showing the SUV that it shouldn't knock a moose down was tempting, but there was that lunch date with his friend that he was late for. And the SUV did seem to have learned the rules for a moose crossing as it was now respectfully waiting for him to cross the road. Finally lunch won out and the moose trotted around the front of the SUV into the woods on the other side.

So be sure to obey the moose rules for moose crossings; the moose always has the right of way. Otherwise you too may be having a very interesting conversation with your insurance company trying to explain why the side of your car was smashed in when the moose hit you.