Tejal Somvanshi
The Alaska Department of Public Safety reported the death of a 70-year-old man last weekend when he was attempting to take photographs of two newborn moose calves but was attacked and killed by their mother. Authorities identified the victim as Dale Chorman, from Homer, who was reportedly exploring the area 100 meters from his home along with another person when they encountered the two moose calves.
“As they were walking through the brush looking for the moose, that’s when the cow moose attacked Dale,” said Austin McDaniel, spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, to the Anchorage Daily News. When the men saw the animal, both turned around and started running. The other man turned back and saw Dale Chorman on the ground with the moose on top of him.
Authorities explained to the same media outlet that the moose attacked both men and kicked Chorman. Spokesperson McDaniel stated that Chorman died during the attack, but the state medical examiner will determine the cause of his death. Dale’s friend who was with him has not been identified by authorities but was unharmed.
The moose and the calves fled the scene after the incident. “The moose, obviously, is not at fault,” told Nathan Spence-Chorman, Dale’s son. “Dale died on his property, tromping through the woods with a dear friend, in pursuit of a great photograph. This was his favorite thing to do. … Dale was highly experienced around wildlife. He was intimately familiar with nature, and had no naivete about its danger,” added Nathan.
Wildlife agents from Anchor Point responded to the scene. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is working with the police to review the incident and determine if the moose poses a risk to public safety. “Cow moose will relentlessly defend their calves from any perceived threat,” McDaniel pointed out. “That’s what we believe occurred here in this instance. We would definitely encourage folks to give cow moose, especially ones with calves, a lot of extra space.”
For its part, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game explained that the animals are normally not aggressive, but they can become so if provoked. A female moose will become very protective of her young calves and will attack humans who get too close. “Calving season for moose is the time when you definitely want to give them extra space,” explained McDaniel. “Cow moose with calves are going to be some of the more aggressive moose you’re going to come in contact with.”
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People should not startle the animals or come between the mother and her calves. “Those moose will become unpredictable and work to protect their calves at any cost,” emphasized McDaniel.
An adult female moose, the largest member of the deer family, can weigh up to 800 pounds (363 kilograms), while an adult male can weigh twice as much, according to the Department of Fish and Game. These animals can reach a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters).
In 1995, a moose trampled a 71-year-old man to death who was trying to enter a building on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. Witnesses said students had been throwing snowballs and harassing the moose and its calf for hours, and the animals became agitated when the man attempted to pass by them.
In Alaska, a state with a population of about 737,000 people, there are up to 200,000 moose. The animals are not usually aggressive, but they can become so if provoked, according to the state Department of Fish and Game’s website. Female moose become very protective of their calves and will attack humans who get too close.Dale Chorman was a carpenter and builder who enjoyed nature walks and had lived in Homer for decades. “This was not a hapless fool stumbling into danger — this was a person who went out looking for a great photo, knowing the risks, and got caught in a dangerous moment,” concluded Nathan Spence-Chorman.
