Anchorage's "Big Wild Life" is off to an early summer start that includes bear maulings and threats of moose stompings. A runner at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson became the first victim on May 18, and while there are no reports of any people stomped by a moose yet, Brian Neeley posted a video of a cow moose at Kincaid Park making a serious attack on a group of mountain bikers.
At least three mountain bikers were seriously injured by moose in the park in June 2012, and there were a variety of close calls last year culminating with a moose being shot in the park during a middle school, cross-country race last fall.
The shooting started a community debate about guns in the park -- the shooter was an off-duty Anchorage policeman in his civilian clothing who happened to be at the park to watch the cross-country race -- and whether too many moose roam Kincaid. The debate continues.
The issue of Anchorage's urban moose population comes to the fore in May and June because cows that just dropped their calves tend to be among the most aggressive, as the video illustrates. Singletrack Advocates, a local group that promotes mountain biking, is advising riders to avoid a popular Kincaid Trail called L Train.
The moose, which gave birth to calves near the trail, "is not shy and will defend her calf against perceived danger with force," the group noted on its Facebook page. "It is not advised to ride Kincaid single track during the calving season. Please be safe."
One of dozens of trails in the 1,400-acre park near the Ted Stevens International Airport, L Train has not been officially closed, and closures at Kincaid have largely proven ineffective. Park trails are not policed, and riders, hikers and dog walkers are regularly found on closed trails either because they wandered there accidentally or decided to ignore closure signs.
Contact Craig Medred at craig(at)alaskadispatch.com.