Depending on the situation and time of year, deer and moose can be deadlier than a sharp-toothed predator.
Heres what you should probably know to keep those crushing hooves and sharp antlers away.
This is part of Lifehackers Animal Attacks Series.
Deer and moose are not always the docile creatures they appear to be.
TheCenters for Disease Controlestimates non-livestock mammals like deer, elk, and mooseaccount for about 52 deaths every year.
Bucks, however, are the most dangerous of the bunch.
They died of thirst or stress.
The truculence of deer can go further than that.
Biologists posited that the living buck
picked a fight with an already dead rival
and tore his head off.
In short, bucks are crazy.
And when its mating season, they arent afraid of anything.
Some bucks will even hold a grudge, likeone that attacked a driverafterthey had hit it with their car.
As with most wild animal encounters, prevention is key.
And never attempt to pet or feed a wild deer.
And no matter what,never spray your body or clothes with elk or deer scent.
They will think youre a deer and act accordingly.
Remember, its likely protecting its territory or protecting its babies.
If you leave its unlikely to chase you.
Do not turn your back on the animal.
A backpack, rock, or large stick might keep you from getting stuck.
In fact, a bull moose can stand at over six feet tall and weigh nearly 1,500 pounds.
Compared to a whitetail buck at about 150 pounds, moose are monstrous.
That means it’s crucial that you handle encounters with them a little differently.
It may give you a few bluff charges as a warning, but you should take them all seriously.
Dogs are also a much bigger liability when it comes to moose.
They may evengo out of their way to kick your dogif youre not careful.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
