Moose at Sugarbush, Vermont chasing skier. The person being chased is an adult approximately six feet tall.
Sugarbush Resort is located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont, and is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres total, with 578 skiable acres, and 53 miles of trails. Sugarbush has 111 ski trails.
The moose is the largest extant species in the deer family. They stand about 4.6 feet to almost 7 feet tall. Males weigh as high as 840 pounds to 1,500 pounds. Females range 440 to 790 pounds. Head-and-body length of a moose is reported to be 7.9 to 10 feet long.
Moose are solitary animals and do not form herds. Moose are generally slow-moving and sedentary, but can become aggressive and move surprisingly fast if angered or startled. Moose attack more people than bears and wolves combined, but with less serous injuries or consequences. Moose that have become habituated to feeding by humans can become cranky and aggressive when the feeding stops. Moose are capable of kicking their sharp pointed hooves on both front and back legs. Signs that a Moose is about to attack? When the Moose maintains eye contact, that’s an early sign that the Moose is agitated. Later signs of aggression, are laid-back ears or a lowered head. Hair raised on the moose’s neck and shoulders is an imminent sign of a moose charge.
There are an estimated 300,000 Moose in North America with about 50,000 in the Northeast. Wisconsin only has a small population near the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Alaska is the state in the United States with the most Moose — estimated population about 200,000.