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ePaper created 2014-01-26, 03:47:43 | version 1.26.00
for kids to identify, as do the large racks of antlers that appear on males in August. Not at all like their shy, Lower 48 deer cousins, moose can be cranky creatures, especially during spring calving and autumn breeding season, known as the Rut. Despite their size, moose have a fast trot and can cover ground with enormous strides, which means you should never approach a moose on purpose. If your family does come upon a moose, stop and assess another way around or wait until he/she decides to move on. This could take a while, however, since moose, despite swiftness of tack, are not at all deft of brain, and decision-making is not always their strong suit. Should a moose become agitated at your presence, its ears will flatten and the hair on its neck and back will rise. Leave quickly and don’t stop for photos. Moose can kick with both their front and back feet, and risking serious injury is not worth the Facebook upload. Residents, including kids, will tell you when you are out of line with respect to moose, as children from preschool on are well versed in moose safety via local schools. Bears Alaska has three types of bears: brown, black, and polar. Unless your family is keen on traveling to the Arctic Circle and communities like Barrow, polar bears will not be a factor in your bear safety plan. But black bears and their larger brown bear cousins (also known as grizzlies or Kodiak brown bears, depending upon your location in the state) are frequently spotted all over Alaska, even in the most-populated city of Anchorage. It is important to note that despite television programs portraying Alaska’s bears as bloodthirsty creatures bent upon causing destruction, “bearanoia” is not an adequate reason for keeping your family from an Alaska wilderness vacation. While bears can and do come in contact with humankind on a fairly regular basis, especially during summer salmon runs, more often than not people and bruins resolve their encounters peacefully. Of course, the best defense is correct information, since almost all bear-human encounters result from misinformation or improper behavior on the human’s part. Planning Your Adventure 38