ADF&G warns moose attacks peak as calving season continues through June

Cow moose defending newborn calves attack people and pets each spring in Alaska, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is warning residents to give moose wide space as most calves appear between mid-May and the end of June. More people in Alaska are injured by moose than by bears each year.

ADF&G issued its annual advisory May 29, 2026. Regional Supervisor Cyndi Wardlow said newborn moose calves cannot run from predators, pets, or people on bicycles. Moose are likely to stand their ground, even when they hear you coming and especially if they are defending a new calf.

If you encounter a moose calf without its mother immediately in view, be alert in case you have walked between them. The best course of action is to back away and leave from the direction you came.

Unlike bears, moose often respond to hazing attempts by charging rather than fleeing. ADF&G recommends finding alternative routes when moose block trails, keeping dogs leashed, and checking yards before letting pets outside. Warning signs that a moose may attack include raised hump hair, ears laid back, and lip-licking. If a moose charges, run and get behind something solid like a tree, car, fence, or building.

ADF&G warns people not to approach or attempt to rescue young animals found alone. Mother moose frequently walk out of sight or become separated from their young by fences or roads, and in nearly all cases the mothers return. If a young animal appears to have been left alone for more than 48 hours, contact the nearest Alaska Department of Fish and Game office during regular business hours or file a report online at www.adfg.alaska.gov. If a situation involves an immediate public safety concern, call 911.