Man Reverts to His Caveman Instincts to Intimidate a Charging Moose

Continue reading for our analysis...

A recent viral video shows a moose standing tall in front of a man, seemingly sizing him up. The aggressive moose charges toward the man, who defaults to his caveman instincts by intimidating the moose. He yells, grunts, and holds an iron bar, ready to attack the moose if need be. Though trapped in a terrifying position, the man stands his ground until the moose retreats.

How Large Can Moose Get?

Moose can grow to be quite large — over six feet in height! They also can weigh over 1,000 pounds. That being said, these sturdy, muscular, and powerful animals can be quite threatening. Typically, male moose are larger than female moose, with male moose weighing between 1200 to 1600 pounds and female moose weighing between 800 to 1200 pounds as adults. 

The largest moose ever recorded was an Alaskan moose, which weighed 1,808 pounds and stood at 7.6 feet tall, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. This record-breaking giant was killed in Yukon in September of 1897.

Do Moose Commonly Attack Humans?

While moose aren’t typically aggressive toward humans, they can become territorial or confrontational when harassed. Additionally, if a moose feels tired, sick, hungry, or threatened, they are more likely to attack. This is especially common during the winter when they must trek through large amounts of snow. 

Thankfully, you shouldn’t have to worry about a moose attacking you if you aren’t antagonizing it. Many people will throw snowballs at moose, approach them too closely, or actively taunt them, which is essentially asking for a fight. So long as you keep your distance and respect the moose, you likely won’t be under its attack.

How Can Humans Protect Themselves From Moose?

If you do find yourself face-to-face with a large, intimidating moose, you can protect yourself by making your presence known. As demonstrated in the video at the beginning of this article, you should slowly back away from the moose while talking loudly or even yelling to scare it away. If the moose charges at you or tries chasing you, seek shelter behind a tree or another solid object. If possible, hide inside a vehicle or building.

In the rare instance a moose knocks you off your feet and continues its attack, you should curl into a ball, protect your head, and lie still. It should eventually abandon you, during which you can slowly get back up and to a safe place.