Veerle's blog

Experts are not sure how it will affect moose behavior, but if you meet Norway’s ‘King of the Forest’ in the southern part of the country, he could be intoxicated - and potentially dangerous.

According to a report from the Newspapers’ News Bureau (ANB), the reason behind the warning is this year’s early snowfall. A warm summer has led to an unusual bounty from the region’s fruit trees. The sudden and early snowfall has left some fruit under snowy cover, while still more remains on the branch. This fruit is fermenting, and also a readily available and tempting source of food for the region’s moose.

“This is the first time I have heard that moose are getting drunk. But I assume that they react the same way people do to intoxication - some become harmless while others are the exact opposite,” said district veterinarian Paul Stamberg in Kristiansand.

The ‘King of the Forest’ - too big not to respect. (photo by Gorm Kallestad)

Martin Kolberg, head of the local animal committee in Telemark, warns people to beware of drunken moose. “Be careful when you approach moose that have been munching apples for days. Their behavior can alter and they can become frighteningly aggressive. Clap and see how it reacts. If it doesn’t retreat but instead comes even closer, by all means stay vigilant. It can be intoxicated and attack,” Kolberg told newspaper Faedrelandsvennen.