Talk:Moose attack

Can’t help but notice
That a large part of the “attacks by region” section is actually about moose being hit by vehicles. These are car accidents, not moose attacks. Beeblebrox (talk) 23:28, 5 February 2018 (UTC)

Should the title be changed to 'Moose attacks and vehicle collisions' or something like that? High Leader (talk) 22:01, 6 February 2018 (UTC)
 * The subject of moose/vehicle collisions is already covered, and done better, at the main moose article. It shouldn’t be here at all. Seems to have been done to fend off the proposal to merge this article into that one. See Talk:Moose. I withdrew the proposal as show of good faith when expansion was promised here, and this is the result. Beeblebrox (talk) 23:39, 11 February 2018 (UTC)

Attack or defense
Seems like attack and defense are meaningless distinctions in the context of moose and wolf interaction. To say it is strictly defensive is to ascribe a human-like intent/motivation to a creature that doesn't exist. ☆ Bri (talk) 05:12, 7 March 2018 (UTC)

It's not an issue of human motivation - there's still a significant difference between a moose minding its own business until attacked by a bunch of wolves and a moose charging a random dog and grinding its owner to pulp. One is an attack and one is not. If someone walks over to a dog and bites it, should the dogs reaction be described as an attack? Obviously not. High Leader (talk) 06:07, 7 March 2018 (UTC)
 * Yeah, this is just silly. It’ a fine image, and perhaps it could be used in the main moose article, but it does not portray a moose attack. Beeblebrox (talk) 07:17, 7 March 2018 (UTC)


 * You can't even talk about human motivation without getting into our own animal instincts. Moose, like any other vertebrate, have an amygdala and thus we can assume by all behavioral evidence that they feel emotions quite similar in the way that humans or dogs do (the difference being humans have a cerebral cortex that rationalizes and keeps our emotions in check).


 * I've seen many moose attacks, and even been attacked many times myself. (The last time right here in Anchorage a few years ago. I had nothing to hide behind but a tree the size of my thumb. All I was trying to do was take the long way around her, and she charged me, stopping just inches away, standing over me snorting like a bull. I finally got away by running through some devils club (even moose won't run through devils club). If it wasn't for my dog stepping in to lead her away I'd likely be dead.) Moose are a lot like brahma bulls; they aren't used to being pushed around, don't intimidate easily, and get very angry when things don't go their way. I've seen them get mad because they can't find enough food, and stand in the middle of a residential road daring any car to try to pass it. I know first hand that they get pissed when they're just sleeping, curled up like a dog deep in the snow, and someone runs one over with a snowmobile. (Wasn't me, I was the unlucky person snowmachining behind that driver who got to meet it face to face. You want to see the dictionary definition of "come unglued"...)


 * Like I said at talk:Moose, this may be able to be a good article that stands on its own, but I think that will take a lot of scouring through biology books to explain what a moose attack is, where and when they attack, who they attack, and why. Without all that, in greater detail than what is already in the moose article, then I think this should be merged with the parent article. (For example, 99.9% of the time the only way a pack of wolves can take down a moose is when it goes on the defensive and tries to run, and that typically only happens if the moose is old, injured or weakened. As long as a moose stays on the offensive, charging and kicking and stomping, it will eventually drive the wolves away, and may even take out a few. If you've never seen it in video or in person, moose aren't like horses, bison, or other deer, they are very flexible, surprisingly quick, and nimble for hooved animals and their aggressive displays can be very wolf-like themselves. They'll drop real low with their butt in the air and outstretched legs in front of them, just like a dog or wolf ready to spring into action, stomping their hooves and grunting loudly. Up close i's a formidable sight.) Zaereth (talk) 21:19, 7 March 2018 (UTC)