Why do moose love roads more than other animals? Danger of moose on the road (6 photos)

If you think that the most formidable animal in the forest is a bear, then you are definitely right. But even among herbivores there are those who can compete for the title of boss of the taiga - moose. The elk will throw a person away with a slight movement of its horns and put a large wolf to rest with a blow from its pointed hoof. You should give way to such an animal even if you are in a car. Especially if you're by car.





According to statistics, moose are the most common participants in road accidents with wild animals. Last year there were 695 accidents involving animals and 60% of them involved a sudden encounter with an elk. Moreover, in 20% the outcome for the driver is fatal. According to traffic rules, when encountering an animal, a motorist should not stop or swerve so as not to cause an emergency. But elk are an exception to this rule.



It just so happens that the average density of our friend is higher than the average density of a car. Therefore, in a collision, it is not the elk that will be crushed against the car, but the car that will crush the elk. In this situation, the best solution is to slow down and go around the elk. Otherwise, 400-600 kilos will go straight to the cabin.





Due to the fact that the animal's legs extend from its ears, the elk's body rises above the car's interior. Therefore, in an accident, the animal will fly straight into the windshield.

Why do ungulates even go out onto the road, it’s dangerous? He has 3 reasons for committing a potentially suicidal act. The first is banal to the point of impossibility - it’s convenient to walk along the road. The smooth and hard surface is much better than the surrounding swamps and snowdrifts.



Nothing unusual, the moose just decided to support the drivers and stand with them in a traffic jam

Another option: the desire to eat salts. Herbivores always lack crystals of white death in their diet, so they have to pervert. They eat aquatic plants, gnaw rocks and, of course, lick the treats scattered by road services. The risk of crashing is great, but moose cannot count.



The third reason is the most humane: moose come to the road to get high! The elk become addicted to the smell of gasoline, diesel fuel and tobacco smoke as if it were a drug. It is rare for wild moose to become dependent on synthetic crap. But on an elk farm, people often notice the elk’s predilection for various types of fuel.