HHS HealthBeat (May 18, 2007)

Magical moose

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Many suburban drivers know about magical deer. Those are the ones that seem to just suddenly appear in our lane on a dark nite.

Now think about that happening with a creature more than seven feet tall, weighing more than half a ton. That’s a moose, and it’s a fact of life for drivers in states such as Maine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking moose-related collisions. The findings are in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The CDC’s Araceli Rey says moose are most active from May through October. She also notes that a dark-furred moose on an unlit road is not the easiest thing to see.

``In Maine, we tell drivers not to drive beyond their headlights, and always wear the safety belt.’’ (5 seconds)

And the moose has the right of way.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: May, 18 2007