The Division of Wildlife Resources advised individuals to be cautious around wildlife when recreating outdoors ahead of the long weekend.
Antelope Island State Park is a popular attraction for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly since it is home to mule deer, pronghorn and bison. The park hosts one of the nation’s largest and oldest bison herds, and while bison attacks are generally rare, individuals should watch the animals from a distance, the agency said in a news release.
“People usually get too close,” Antelope Island Park Manager Jeremy Shaw said in the release. “They always want to get closer and closer for photos. And any time there is a dangerous interaction with wildlife, it’s usually because the person got too close.”
Antelope Island typically hosts about 515 bison during the winter months. Once the female bison have their calves in the spring, the island’s bison herd swells to over 700 animals.
The most recent suspected bison attack at the park occurred in August 2020, after a trail runner was found with injuries consistent with a bison attack and later died. Three people were charged by bison at the park in 2019 along the Lakeside trail.
During a bison encounter, individuals should watch the animal from a safe distance, the agency advised. If a bison stops what it is doing and begins watching an onlooker, that’s a sign the individual is too close and should slowly back away.
If a bison is in the middle of the road, individuals should wait for it to pass and stay inside their vehicle. If a bison is on the side of the road, individuals should slowly drive past the animal. The agency advised individuals to never approach a bison, and if a bison comes close while hiking a trail, they should give the animal a wide berth and leave the trail if necessary.
“We’ve got trail restrictions on Antelope Island in the backcountry, but safety trumps those rules,” Shaw said in the release. “If you are in the backcountry hiking and you come across any wildlife that’s in your path, we urge you to travel around it. Whatever distance you think you should remain from the animal, double it — that’s how far back you should stay.”
Moose are another large animal often found when recreating, mostly in the mountains of the northern and northeastern part of the state. Utah is home to 2,500-3,000 moose, and due to their large size, the animals can become aggressive when they feel threatened, according to the agency.
The animals are excellent swimmers, and they typically feed on aquatic vegetation and wood growth during the summer. Peak moose activity typically occurs near dawn or dusk, and the animals can be very aggressive around dogs — so hikers should keep their dogs leashed and under control at all times on trails likely to have moose.
Physical warning signs a moose may become aggressive include the following, according to the agency:
If an individual encounters a moose, they should give it a lot of space and watch the animal’s behavior. If it exhibits any signs of aggression, individuals should not run away — but instead talk, make their presence known and back off in the direction they came.
If a moose charges or chases a person, they should hide behind something solid — like a tree. If someone is knocked down by a moose, they should curl into a ball, protect their head and lie down until the animal retreats.
With any encounter of aggressive wildlife, individuals should report the situation to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or their local police department or county sheriff’s office.