It’s important to always expect the unexpected when driving, no matter where you live.
One cop in Alaska got quite the jarring surprise while traveling down the highway, which involved a couple of moose. The whole event was captured on film by her vehicle’s dashcam.
Every city and state has its own unique features. For those in Anchorage, Alaska, seeing and experiencing wildlife is just part of residents’ everyday living.
From bears to moose, to bald eagles – people in this area are accustomed to being up close with some pretty amazing species (as long as they don’t get TOO close).
While nature is a beautiful thing, one must be cautious.
One issue in Alaska has to do with animals entering the roadways. This is a major problem all over the country, with the types of species, of course, being dependent on the area. In our most northern state, drivers need to watch out for moose.
On the Alaska Department of Fish and Game site, they state:
“Per mile driven, Alaska has one of the highest rates of moose-vehicle collisions in the world! Hundreds of moose are struck by motorists each year on Alaska’s roadways. Roads often cut through an animal’s home range or travel corridor.”
Anchorage Police Officer, Natasha Welch, had her own experience while out driving one day.
The road ahead of her was clear on the four-lane highway. This can be seen in Officer Welch’s dashcam footage. But then, out of nowhere – two creatures appear on the right.
A mama moose and her calf emerged from the road’s shoulder. Out of nowhere, the pair began to dart across the highway in front of the cop’s patrol vehicle.
Officer Welch immediately hit her brakes while the mama and baby made their dash. But as they did, they both slipped and fell to their knees for a moment.
Fortunately, the officer’s vehicle came to a halt just in time.
The mama moose made it to the median, while the calf stopped halfway through and turned back.
Eventually, Officer Welch’s video shows the baby successfully crossing the highway (with her car stopped), and even makes it across the other two lanes as well. The other motorists too had come to a stop.
According to Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
“Adult moose can range in size from 800 pounds (small adult female) to 1,600 pounds (large adult male), and they can be up to almost 6 feet tall.”
If the officer didn’t react so quickly, or if the situation had gone just a tiny bit differently, the results could have been different. When Inside Edition shared the story on their YouTube channel, one person commented:
“As a trucker, I seen what it looks like when a car or even truck hits an adult Moose. A lot of times the driver doesn’t survive it.”
But that’s not the only interesting moose footage that was caught on camera.
Watch the video below to see Officer Welch’s heart-pounding situation for yourself, on top of another story about a female moose running wild in an Idaho community.
It’s a good reminder to always be aware of your surroundings, especially out on the road!
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