Expect To See More Adirondack Moose And That's Not A Good Thing

It's the best time of the year to see a real life moose in the Adirondacks. Now that sounds like a good thing, unfortunately, the chance of spotting a moose on the road is also at its peak. The NY Department of Conservation says it's mating season and the animals are looking for love, sometimes in all the wrong places.

The lure of love has male moose wandering out of their usual hiding places. Making it even more dangerous, most of the wandering is done around dawn and dusk when it's hardest to see them. And because they are so tall, most headlights don't pick up their dark-colored bodies. The size can also be detrimental when hitting one, their body gets thrown into the windshield of vehicles.

Some obvious things you can do to protect yourself; slow down around sunrise and sunset, always have the seatbelt secured, stay alert, and use flashers when you spot one to warn other motorists. Some not-so-obvious things to keep in mind:

Moose travel in groups, if you see one there are probably more out of sight.
One standing beside the road may get spooked and run into the road as you near.
If you are about to make contact, brake but DON'T swerve. Trying to dodge a moose brings more obstacles into play like other cars, trees, and other obstacles.

More moose in the Adirondacks are killed by vehicle collisions than a disease. 2016 and 2017 were among the highest years in the number of moose-car incidents.

SOURCE: NY Department of Conservation