Having a salty treat can be a delicious experience for everyone. Parks officials in Canada don’t agree as they are urging drivers not to stop on highways to let moose lick salt off their cars during the winter.
Parks Canada spokesperson Tracy McKay said that allowing moose to lick road salt from cars can cause them to lose their fear of roads and vehicles, something that could be very dangerous for all parties involved.
“Unfortunately, this kind of puts [moose] at risk of being injured or killed if they get hit by a vehicle,” McKay said.
On average, McKay said that nearly four moose are killed in the area of Alberta’s Jasper National Park each year when they wander out onto major roads. To try to help get their message out, they began posting electronic road signs in 2020 with the words: “Do not let moose lick your car.”
Parks officials have now taken to social media to try to get their message across, posting a video on Facebook about not allowing moose to come up to your car.
McKay said officials are still trying to find a long-term solution for keeping moose off the roads in winter. “There’s been a few projects in various places that have tried salt alternatives, but they tend to be more expensive or they don’t work as well or both,” McKay said.
She added: “If it’s safe to keep going without running into the moose, then we would recommend people just try to slowly, carefully drive away. Just try not to let moose lick your car.”
Source: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=332026882983364&t=0