Moose kills Alaska man attempting to take photos of her newborn calves

MicroWave@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 225 points – Moose kills Alaska man attempting to take photos of her newborn calves
apnews.com

A 70-year-old Alaska man who was attempting to take photos of two newborn moose calves was attacked and killed by their mother, authorities said Monday.

The man killed Sunday was identified as Dale Chorman of Homer, said Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

The female moose had recently given birth to the calves in Homer.

“As they were walking through the brush looking for the moose, that’s when the cow moose attacked Dale,” McDaniel said.

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It's sad to hear but I think we all need more news stories of people dying trying to take photos in nature. While hiking the past 10 years I'm surprised how many people at the top of cliffs are just gathering for selfies. Idk why they don't realize that not going to the absolute edge maybe 5-6 feet away is the exact same photo and tripping backwards wouldn't immediately kill them.

but then I don't get the rush of feeling alive and being close to death

Wyoming resident here. Moose are nothing to fuck with. Mama moose protecting her calves should be extremely obvious, but you should also be wary of males during mating season. No chill whatsoever.

EDIT: Grammar correction.

I don't normally do this, but I see this from time to time, so just so you know:

wary: feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.

leery: cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions

weary: feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep

I'm sorry if this was annoying rather than helpful!

Not annoying at all. Thank you for sharing!

Also a Wyoming resident and people are just downright dumb when it comes to wildlife. Frankly anything that is taller than your knees can kill you if it really wants to. Stay the hell away from it!

Frankly anything that is taller than your knees can kill you if it really wants to.

My wife came across a wolverine while trail riding. She thought it was a grumpy badger. He was growling and clearly meant business.

I was once watching a grizzly and cub way up near the treeline, from a well hidden spot. Then we saw the wolverine and the bear smelled it around the same time and took off with her cub at a swift trot.

We agreed and hid more until we were sure the wolverine wouldn't see us, then trotted away ourselves. Two of the world's most badass predator species just scrambling to get away from the little murder rug. Won't forget that.

I don’t live anywhere near moose and I feel like this should be readily apparent. If the animal is as big as a fucking truck don’t mess with it.

My first time in Alaska I was out in some remote ski town in the summer with nothing but locals and the first thing EVERYONE said was "Bears are nothing. It's the moose you need to worry about." /giphy rocky and bullwinkle

Those videos of bull moose charging through 4’ of chest-high snow like it’s nothing are truly spectacular. They must be terrifying up close, so powerful.

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I expected it to be a tourist. You would think an Alaskan would know better.

Familiarity can cause over confidence

Seen that with worksite accidents as well.

Complacency is usually a big topic during safety instruction for that reason. Yet people still get too comfortable.

People these days seem to have no concept of danger in nature anymore.

I was at this (admittedly pretty, built right in the middle of a forest and on a mountain) church building and walked around a corner right into this family of deer. Eight point buck about five feet in front of me, three other deer on the other side of a wrought iron fence behind him. I start slowly backing away and this young woman I'm with wants to walk up and pet the buck. Like what the fuck, let's get gored.

It's been that way a long while. I remember seeing footage from the 70s with a toddler chasing a bear cub in Yellowstone while all the adults laughed. People, on average, are dumb as fuck.