We hit a Moose!

[Bearvet]

Saturday evening we were headed out to celebrate DH's birthday. We live in a fairly rural area, it was foggy and rainy around 5:00 PM. As we were driving, DH swerved and when I looked over all I could see in the driver's side window was a large moose head! It must have been walking across the road and with all the fog we couldn't see him! His muzzle hit the mirror and took it off(the mirror), but luckily that was all the damage and no one was hurt (except probably the moose ).

We pulled over since we weren't sure what to do and of course we were in an area with no cell phone service. Another car came along and had no problems driving in that lane, so at least we knew that the moose wasn't in the road. DH is a vet, but of course he couldn't do anything to help the moose which is very frustrating!

When we got to the restaurant DH called the police and a very helpful officer explained next steps to take. Needless to say we were pretty shaken up for awhile. We also realized that as upsetting as this was, it could have been much worse if the timing was a few seconds different, or if DH hadn't reacted so quickly. That really helped put everything in perspective.

So, this was a very memorable birthday for DH .

 

[Pop Daddy]

I thought they left this earth with the dinosaures (serious), what is moose, like a cow with horns ?

 

[mickeyboat]

Saturday evening we were headed out to celebrate DH's birthday. We live in a fairly rural area, it was foggy and rainy around 5:00 PM. As we were driving, DH swerved and when I looked over all I could see in the driver's side window was a large moose head! It must have been walking across the road and with all the fog we couldn't see him! His muzzle hit the mirror and took it off(the mirror), but luckily that was all the damage and no one was hurt (except probably the moose ).

We pulled over since we weren't sure what to do and of course we were in an area with no cell phone service. Another car came along and had no problems driving in that lane, so at least we knew that the moose wasn't in the road. DH is a vet, but of course he couldn't do anything to help the moose which is very frustrating!

When we got to the restaurant DH called the police and a very helpful officer explained next steps to take. Needless to say we were pretty shaken up for awhile. We also realized that as upsetting as this was, it could have been much worse if the timing was a few seconds different, or if DH hadn't reacted so quickly. That really helped put everything in perspective.

So, this was a very memorable birthday for DH .

Holy Smokes! I am really surprised you saw a moose this time of year. It is so dangeroue to hit a moose because their legs are so long, they end up coming up on to your hood and through te windshield. You guys were really lucky!

Papa - When I first moved up here, I was on my way to work at 5AM one morning and saw this huge creature in the middle of the road. I stopped at a store and called the police and told them there was a "mule" in the road. When I described the beast to my co-workers, I was embarassed to find out it was a moose. I had never seen a moose without antlers, especially right in town. I still get crap for that one, darn flatlander!

Denae

Denae

 

[MsDisney23]

Thank God it was not real bad!

 

[minkydog]

Oh my gosh! That's something we here in Georgia have never had to worry about. Glad it wasn't any worse. I know hitting a deer can be pretty bad--i can't imagine what a moose would do to your car.

 

[Tinkim]

It is really hard to imagine just how big a moose is until you've seen one. I live in NH and never see any moose here but in the summer we go up to Maine to SIL's house and usually see a moose or two. The kids and I drove up there last year and saw a moose on the side of the road. I had a new digital camera so I had to turn around and go find it. We snapped a bunch of pictures from about 10-12 ft away. It was enormous and pretty amazing. Glad the OP and her husband were able to avoid hitting the moose head on. It was definitely your lucky day!

 

[Tiggeroo]

i'm so glad you and your vehicle are ok. And it's kind of a chuckle, hitting a moose. Not to make light of your problem. I've never seen a moose. Can't imagine hitting one though i've hit several deer.

 

[binny]

Having been WAY too close to a moose once when I lived in the Yukon... I can imagine how freaked out you were!

Im so glad you guys werent hurt! Often those accidents end in disaster.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good to hear it was not worse. Yikes.

 

[pixiemomma]

I'm glad you are ok. Moose are huge!

 

[pyrxtc]

I love watching the Moose come out of the woods across the street. They are hit pretty often. last summer a guy ona motorcycle hit one and actually lived. he only got a few bruises. he was going the speed limit instead of the 55 peope usualy do up that roda and after the front of his bike hit it, he slid underneath it. Nobody could believe the story. the moose had to be put down though.

 

[Pam]

When we were vacationing in the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone several years ago - a man in an 80s pickup hit a moose just ahead of us! It was a young male moose - and weighed around a 1,000 pounds!

The truck, being an older model and made of heavy material, got the front end smashed up and the radiator burst. The moose, unfortunately, was seriously injured and we had to call the Game Commission to come out and put the poor thing out of its misery. A crane had to be used to take the body out.

It sounds as though the moose might not have been that hurt if it was able to walk away.

That must have been very, very scary! Glad you are okay!

 

[JCJRSmith]

My brother lives in upstate Vermont and he told me that a lot of people have gotten killed hitting a moose. The problem is that the moose is so tall that cars will hit one and take its legs out and the moose ends up falling thru the windshield onto the occupants of the vehicle. If you see the mosse crossing signs, keep your head on a swivel.

To the OP - glad you are alright.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I thought they left this earth with the dinosaures (serious), what is moose, like a cow with horns ?

 

[eleanor]

Around here it is deer and they have been plentiful this winter. There were 7 accidents in one week involving deer.One person was killed.

 

[minkydog]

Holy cow If i saw that thing looking into my car I'd have a heart attack

 

[laurajetter]

I thought they left this earth with the dinosaures (serious), what is moose, like a cow with horns ?

hahaha!! That's exactly how I was regarding buffalo! I thought they were extinct until I passed by some in a field at a local kids' camp when I was younger... it kind of freaked me out, because in my mind I put them in the same category as dinosaurs!!!

Laura

 

[Bearvet]

Thanks for all of your support and yes, we were very lucky! Thanks SwedishMeatball for posting the picture - I'm glad I only saw the head instead of the entire body!

In the last few months, many people have reported seeing moose along this road - about a 10 mile stretch of Rt 202. Not sure why so many sightings recently - maybe mild weather this winter? building or coyotes forcing them out of the woods? who knows!

Apparently since moose have such long legs they topple when they are hit and that's why they cause so much damage. I can't even begin to imagine if the timing was off by only a few seconds...

I'm hoping they'll post some moose warning signs along this road - there aren't any now.

 

[pumba]

you are so very very lucky. Living in a state where moose can walk the roads with everyone.....sort of shakes you up......I am so glad that you are all okey...In alot of the areas up north from us ....one moose accident means a sign goes up....This is why we have a controlled area moose hunt each year.

 

[wenbel]

Moose like to come out and lap the salt off the road. That is probably why you are seeing them this time of year. (should add that they put salt down on the the road when they plow to melt the snow)