Malamute vs Moose: Why Dogs and Moose Are a Risky Mix

An Alaskan Malamute and a moose meet face to face in the snow. Gene Cornelius posted the encounter on YouTube as “Moose and Malamute Messing About in the Snow”, and it spread online as the story of a loyal dog protecting its family. It is also a vivid lesson in why moose and dogs are a risky mix.

The Malamute: a freight dog built for snow

The Alaskan Malamute is thought to have been bred by the Malimiut Inupiaq people of Alaska’s Norton Sound region to haul heavy loads by sled. It was never a racing dog; it was valued for strength and endurance. Males stand about 64 cm at the shoulder and weigh around 39 kg, females about 58 cm and 34 kg. A double coat with a thick, oily undercoat up to five centimetres deep keeps the dog warm, and the bushy tail covers its face when it curls up in the snow. Malamutes were also used to help hunters track seal breathing holes and deal with large predators such as bears.

How big is a moose?

Even a large Malamute is tiny next to its opponent. Adult moose stand 1.4–2.1 m at the shoulder. Bulls usually weigh 380–700 kg and cows 200–490 kg, and the Alaskan subspecies is the largest of all, with males averaging around 635 kg. Moose live in boreal and mixed forests right across the Northern Hemisphere, with the largest population in Canada and about 200,000 animals in Alaska alone.

In winter they browse on branches and twigs and avoid very deep snow, which slows them down. That often pushes them onto plowed roads, trails and driveways, exactly where they meet people and pets. For a moose in a much tougher spot, watch A Moose Moves Through Deep Snow in Gaspésie.

Why moose react so strongly to dogs

Wolves are the moose’s main predator, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife explains that moose react to all dogs as they would to a wolf, trying to stamp them with their hooves. In at least 15 moose conflicts the agency recorded from 2013, a dog triggered the moose’s response in all but two. Moose can kick in any direction, and across the world they injure more people than any other wild mammal except the hippopotamus, usually with minor injuries.

Moose are not normally aggressive, but cows defend their calves fiercely, especially after the May and June calving season, and bulls can be aggressive during the September–October rut.

Moose safety tips for dog owners

Keep dogs on a leash in moose country, as wildlife agencies advise. Learn the warning signs, too:

• ears laid back
• hair raised on the neck and shoulders (hackles), which usually means a charge is coming
• licking the snout, cocking the head or rolling the eyes

If a moose shows these signs, back away slowly. If it charges, run and put something large, such as a tree, boulder or car, between you and it. For more animal stories from the snow, read Millie’s individual outdoor story or the tale of a roadside bear-cub encounter.

Moose get into trouble in winter too: see A Moose in the Ice: The Loon Lake Rescue.

Related reading

• A Young Moose Caught in a Gate: The Rescue Sequence
• Sylvie the Husky’s Ice Rescue: Sean P. Coyle Reaches the Dog

Sources