You're driving through the White Mountains or maybe cruising along a quiet stretch of the AlCan Highway, and there it is. A massive, leggy silhouette against the pines. Seeing a moose next to car doors is a bucket-list moment for most, but honestly, it’s also one of the quickest ways to end up with a totaled Subaru and a very high insurance deductible. These animals are huge. Like, "taller than your SUV" huge.
Most people think moose are just dopey, oversized deer. They aren't. They are solitary, unpredictable, and surprisingly obsessed with your winter road grime. If you've ever wondered why a 1,200-pound bull is licking your wheel well, it isn’t because he likes your hubcaps. He wants the salt.
Why a Moose Next to Car Windows Is Actually a Salt Mission
Road salt is basically moose Gatorade. During the winter, highway departments dump tons of sodium chloride and calcium chloride on the asphalt to keep us from sliding into ditches. When that snow melts, it pools in "salt licks" at the edge of the road. Or, more frequently, it coats the side of your vehicle.
Bill Kilpatrick, a biologist who has spent decades tracking ungulates in the Northeast, notes that moose are chronically sodium-deficient. They spend their summers eating aquatic plants to get those minerals, but in the winter? Your dirty car is a moving buffet. This creates a dangerous intersection of wildlife behavior and human curiosity. When you see a moose next to car tires, it’s likely engaging in "licking behavior." It’s weird to watch. It’s even weirder when the moose decides it doesn't want to share the "salt lick" with the person inside the metal box.
The Physics of a 1,500-Pound Problem
Let's talk scale. An adult Alaskan moose can stand 7 feet tall at the shoulder. Their legs are long for a reason—it lets them wade through deep snow and marshes. But those legs also mean that in a collision, the body of the moose is exactly at windshield height. If you are parked and a moose approaches, you are relatively safe. If you are moving, it’s a different story.
Because their center of gravity is so high, a car usually knocks the legs out from under the animal. The torso then pivots and crashes through the glass. It’s a literal ton of muscle coming into your lap. Even at a standstill, having a moose next to car panels is risky. They have heavy hooves that can dent steel like it’s aluminum foil.
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What to Do When the Encounter Happens
It starts with a shadow. You slow down. You pull over. This is where most people make their first mistake. They think the car is a shield.
- Keep the engine running. You might need to move quickly.
- Don't honk. While it works for some animals, a moose might see it as a challenge. Or it might just ignore you. Or it might charge. It’s a toss-up you don't want to play.
- Watch the ears. This is the "tell." If the ears are pinned back against the head, the moose is annoyed. If the hair on the hump (the mane) is standing up, you are in the danger zone.
- Windows up. Seriously. Don't try to hand-feed a moose a carrot. Their saliva can carry parasites, and their bite force is immense.
Honestly, the best thing you can do if there’s a moose next to car doors is to slowly roll forward or backward. Give them space. If they are licking the salt off your bumper, they might be stubborn. Just wait. Eventually, they’ll move back into the brush.
The "Dumb" Moose Myth
There's this idea that moose are stupid because they stand in the middle of the road staring at headlights. They aren't dumb; they're just not evolved for LEDs. In the wild, nothing challenges a moose except a grizzly or a pack of wolves. They don't have a "get out of the way" instinct for shiny objects. To them, your Ford F-150 is just a noisy, weirdly shaped boulder that happens to taste like salt.
Real-World Stats: The Cost of the Encounter
In places like Maine, Alaska, and Sweden, moose-vehicle interactions are a legitimate public health crisis. Alaska alone sees about 800 to 1,000 moose-related accidents a year. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, these aren't just "fender benders." The average cost of a moose-vehicle collision in terms of property damage, medical bills, and lost productivity is staggeringly high.
- Maine: Over 500 crashes annually.
- Sweden: They actually have "moose tests" for cars (the Evasive Maneuver Test) to see if a vehicle can swerve at high speeds without flipping.
- Newfoundland: Highest density of moose in North America. Driving at night is basically a game of Russian Roulette.
If you find yourself with a moose next to car or blocking the road at night, remember that their fur is incredibly light-absorbent. They don't reflect light like a deer’s eyes do. You often won't see them until you're right on top of them.
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When Licking Turns to Lunging
Most of the time, the moose is chill. But "moose season" changes the math. During the fall rut (mating season), bulls are pumped full of testosterone and are looking for a fight. In late spring, cows are incredibly protective of their calves. If you see a calf, know that the mother is nearby, and she is much more dangerous than the bull. A cow moose will kick forward—unlike a horse—and she can crack a ribs or a windshield with a single strike.
Defensive Driving in Moose Country
You've got to change how you scan the road. Stop looking at the pavement. Look at the ditches. Look for the "cutoff"—the gap in the trees where a large animal might emerge.
If you see a moose next to car tracks in the snow, slow down immediately. Where there is one, there are often two. Calves often trail behind their mothers by thirty or forty feet. You might clear the mother and hit the baby, which is a tragedy for everyone involved.
Brake firmly. Don't swerve wildly into oncoming traffic. If you have to choose between a ditch and a head-on collision with a semi-truck, take the ditch. But if you can, try to aim for the animal's rear. If the moose is crossing from left to right, steer slightly left (if clear). They rarely "back up." They almost always move forward.
Dealing with the Aftermath: Damage and Safety
So, the moose actually hit the car, or you hit it. What now?
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First, stay in the vehicle. A wounded moose is the most dangerous animal in the woods. It’s disoriented, in pain, and looking to stomp whatever is closest. Call the local state police or fish and game wardens. In many jurisdictions, it is illegal to leave the scene of a large animal collision without reporting it.
Check your pillars. The A-pillars (the metal frames around your windshield) are the only thing that kept the roof from collapsing. If they are bent, the car is likely a total loss. Insurance companies generally cover "acts of God" or "animal strikes" under comprehensive coverage, but you’ll need a police report to make it stick.
Specific Actions for Your Next Road Trip
If you’re heading into moose territory, don't just wing it. A little prep goes a long way.
- Clean your car frequently. If you remove the salt buildup, you are less attractive to a hungry moose. A quick power wash at a gas station can save your paint job from moose tongue marks.
- Install high-visibility lighting. If it's legal in your state, auxiliary LED bars can help illuminate the "dead zone" on the shoulders where moose linger.
- Heads up, phones down. This sounds basic, but most moose hits happen at dusk or dawn when visibility is trickiest and drivers are tired.
- Respect the distance. If you’re stopping for a photo of a moose next to car doors, stay inside. Use a zoom lens. Your TikTok isn't worth a trip to the ER.
Moose are majestic, prehistoric-looking giants that deserve our respect. They aren't "cute," and they aren't pets. They are powerful wild animals trying to survive in a landscape we've paved over. By understanding why they approach our vehicles and how to react when they do, you can ensure that your wildlife encounter stays a cool story rather than a traumatic memory.
Keep your eyes on the treeline. Watch for the legs. And for the love of everything, keep your salt-covered car away from their tongues whenever possible.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your vehicle's comprehensive insurance policy to ensure you have a low deductible for animal strikes if you live in or are traveling to high-density moose areas like Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, or Alaska. Purchase a high-quality glass cleaner and keep your windshield spotless; even slight smudges can catch the glare of oncoming headlights and hide a moose standing on the shoulder. Finally, if you're driving in the "Moose Belt" during dawn or dusk, drop your speed by at least 10 mph below the posted limit to significantly increase your reaction time.