Single-track Biking in Moose Country

Biking in moose and bear country is risky business! Here are some tips to help avoid a close encounter with a moose while riding on single track as well as other trails that you share with wildlife.

• Know your risk! Biking on narrow, winding trails increases your chance of unexpectedly encountering moose at close range. These types of encounters often result in human injury.
• Choose your route wisely; avoid areas with poor visibility, including areas with thick vegetation or trails with short sight distance and blind corners.
• Do not wear earbuds while riding – you may hear a moose before you see it.
• Use extra caution riding at night and in poor light conditions.
• Leave pets at home.
  

  Charging Moose

• Be alert for signs that moose may be in the area.
• If you encounter a moose on the trail, be flexible. Go back the way you came. You can always ride that route another day.
• Never throw objects to try to move moose off a trail. This is wildlife harassment, and aggravating wildlife creates serious risk to other trail users.
• If you encounter a moose at close range and it charges, FLEE! If you are unable to escape in time, put something solid between you and the moose.
• Certain times of the year are more dangerous than others in relation to moose!
  • Late May through June is moose calving season.
    • Use extreme caution if using winding single-track trails during this time.
    • Cow moose with young calves are dangerous and will stand their ground. They will not move out of your way and will attack if they feel their calves are threatened.
    • Bikers are injured every spring by defensive cow moose.
  • Mid-September through Early October is when bull moose are in rut.
    • Use caution if using winding single-track trails during the rut.
    • Bull moose in rut are aggressive towards anything they perceive as a threat.
    • Bull moose in rut are more unpredictable compared to other times of the year. They are not easily moved off trails and are more likely to charge bikers and other recreators during this time.
  • Mid through late winter can be a stressful time for moose.
    • Avoid trying to push moose off bike trails mid through late winter.
    • Moose in winter are unlikely to move off trails because they are nutritionally stressed and are trying to escape deep snow by traveling on packed trails.
    • In winter moose may show little to no reaction to human presence but can be exceptionally aggressive if crowded. They also have a lower tolerance for people and pets this time of year.

Tips to follow when you use single track trails that you share with bears.