Parks Canada is warning drivers not to stop on the road this winter to allow moose to lick their cars. This unusual message is sent because moose attempt to meet their salt needs by licking roads and vehicles, increasing the risk of collisions, explains Parks Canada's Tracy McKay.
It's OK to laugh about it as long as people drive responsibly and do what's best for wildlife, she said.
Ms. McKay remembers that Parks Canada issues a warning every winter when moose venture onto roads and highways to stock up on salt. Unfortunately, moose are at risk of being injured or killed if struck by a vehicle.
Parks Canada recognizes that seeing these wild animals is a highlight for many people. However, we ask people not to stop so that the moose do not get used to licking salt off cars.
Roy Rea, an assistant professor at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), has been studying moose for 25 years and is particularly interested in why they approach transportation corridors.
One of the reasons moose go there is to spread salt in the winter to de-ice the roads, he said.
Mr Rea explains that moose need a lot of sodium to maintain their body functions.
In summer there is a lot of greenery and the plants contain a lot of minerals, but in winter they usually don't have access to them.
They have to go everywhere to find salt, and one of the most convenient ways for them is to cross the streets and lick the salt there, he said. He adds that cars have become an attractive pleasure because of the salt residue that winter driving leaves behind.
Since the months of December and January are the darkest and often the coldest, Roy Rea advises drivers to be particularly careful.
A large dark brown or black moose sits on a black asphalt road against a black background… and you won't see him until it's too late, he warns.
The most common moose-vehicle accidents in British Columbia occur in December and January, when it is darkest and we most often drive in low light conditions.
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According to a researcher, moose look for salt in the winter to maintain their body functions.
Photo: Provided by Parks Canada
Parks Canada began warning the public after receiving calls from drivers driving through Jasper National Park in Alberta who saw moose licking their cars, says Tracy McKay.
Nearly four elk are killed by vehicles in this region each year, she said.
According to Ms. McKay, even when sand is used to de-ice the roads in this national park, moose are still attracted to the traces of salt in it.
There are attempts in various places to use alternatives to salt, but they tend to be more expensive or don't work as well, she notes.
The warning is therefore a way to ensure the preservation of the moose population in Canada.
If it is possible to continue driving without hitting a moose, we recommend driving away slowly and carefully. And we strongly recommend that you prevent the moose from licking your car.
With information from Arrthy Thayaparan