Canadian motorists warned to not allow moose to lick their cars

by Kirsten Jacobs

November 24, 2020

Canadians in Alberta have been warned by officials to be extra wary and not allow moose to lick their car.

Motorists have been entertained by new signs in Jasper, an alpine town in the province, warning motorists that moose are unable to resist licking road salt off of cars.

“They’re obsessed with salt, it’s one of the things they need for the minerals in their body,” Jasper National Park spokesman Steve Young told CNN. “They usually get it from salt lakes in the park, but now they realized they can also get road salt that splashes onto cars.”

Jasper National Park is a popular location for travellers to park on the side of the road to witness moose up close and personal. However, this can be dangerous for the animals. Allowing them to lick the salt off your car may cause them to become habituated with being around cars, which in turn will post a threat to both moose and motorists.

“Moose and cars are not a good mix. If you hit the moose with your car, you take the legs out from under it and it’s going through your windshield,” Young said.

To prevent moose from licking salt off a car, Young advises to drive away from them when they begin to approach.

Young adds that visitors should avoid interactions with wildlife, including moose as they will not back down if they feel threatened. Visitors found feeding, enticing or disturbing wildlife in national parks could face fines up to $25,000 (R383 875).

Picture: Twitter