Newcastle motorcyclist hospitalized after near-miss with moose in Algonquin Park
Published June 7, 2022 at 1:46 pm
A man from Newcastle is in hospital after losing control of his motorcycle in Algonquin Park while trying to avoid a moose.
The man, a 75-year-old was riding his motorcycle eastward down Hwy 60 shortly before 9 a.m. on May 28. As he approached Minnesing Mountain Bike Trail near Canisbay Lake he encountered a moose in the roadway. The nearest town, Whitney, is about 40 km away
He swerved to avoid the creature and lost control of his bike. He was ejected from the bike and sustained non-life threatening injuries. He did manage to avoid the moose.
Muskoka Ambulance Services transported the man to hospital and the motorcycle was towed away.
This is one of several moose encounters in Algonquin this spring. The OPP reported three other collisions throughout May. In the first, around 4 p.m. May 16, an SUV struck a moose also on Hwy 60 further East near Killarney Lodge. The 66-year-old driver suffered minor injuries.
The next on May 20, occurred around 10 a.m. by the Park’s West Gate. This time a 35-year-old driver struck a moose. Neither he nor his four passengers were hurt.
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Finally on May 22, a 40-year-old Toronto man struck a moose, again near the West Gate. He too was unharmed in the crash.
However, the moose have not been so lucky. All three moose died in the crashes. All the cars had to be towed away.
Moose are well known to be dangerous on roadway. The giant creatures are the largest and heaviest of any in the deer family. An adult bull moose can be nearly seven feet tall at the shoulder and weigh in at as much as 700 kg.
Given their height a collision often sweeps the moose off its feet to come sliding across the hood of a car and into the roof or windshield. A study from New England found moose collisions were 13 times deadlier than deer collisions.
This danger prompted the OPP to warn visitors to the park, “observe your surroundings. Actively scan the sides of the roads as you drive for any signs of wildlife.”
“Heed the warning signs. Collisions occur most often in prime moose or deer habitats such as forested areas and waterways,” they continued.
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