Parks Canada is warning drivers not to stop while on highways to let moose lick their cars this winter.

The peculiar message comes as moose have been trekking onto highways to lick salt off of roads and passing vehicles, says Tracy McKay with Parks Canada.

“It does sound very funny … It’s okay to laugh at it, as long as people drive responsibly and do what’s best for the wildlife,” she said.

McKay says Parks Canada puts out a warning every winter as moose venture down to highways to fuel their salt intake.

“Unfortunately, this kind of puts [moose] at risk of being injured or killed if they get hit by a vehicle,” she said.

“Parks Canada understands that seeing those wildlife is a real highlight for a lot of people, but we ask people not to stop … so that the moose can’t get used to licking salt off of the cars.”

    • voracitude@lemmy.worldEnglish
      51·
      1 year ago

      You’re absolutely right about the predators - I had figured moose and other prey animals would go in herds, which is typically how they defend themselves from predators. Lazy hunters are another story; while I’m sure there are ways to set up monitoring to discourage people from doing it, it’s also indisputably true that if you give anyone a system they’ll learn to game it.

      I appreciate the discussion, by the way. This is one of my favourite ways to learn new things 🙌

    • NoIWontPickaName@kbin.social
      22·
      1 year ago

      See, I don’t believe that hunting over bait or hunting over a salt lick is any worse than just shooting in a tree stand.

      At least you’re putting in the effort and shit.

      With a tree stand, all you do is put it up once and then go sit in the motherfucker, with bait you have to put that shit out over and over, saltbox not so much.

      It’s a constant maintenance kind of deal