THE BLUE AND WHITE

Wild Wonders of Canada – Episode 2 – The Great Moose Mystery: Why Do They Love Salt?

When you think of moose, you probably picture these big, slow creatures wandering quietly through the forest, right? Well, that’s not quite the whole story. Moose have a little-known “strange hobby”: they’re absolutely obsessed with salt. They’ll go to incredible lengths to get even a small taste, sometimes leading to some truly odd behavior.

Here’s how it works: moose need salt to keep their muscles and nerves functioning properly. But unlike us, who can just sprinkle some salt on our fries, moose don’t have easy access to this mineral. Their typical diet of leaves, bark, and twigs contains almost no sodium. So, moose are constantly on the lookout for ways to replenish their salt levels.

This is why they’re often found by the roadside. In winter, road crews spread tons of salt on the roads to prevent ice from forming. When the snow melts in spring, this salt doesn’t disappear completely—it seeps into roadside puddles and ditches. To a moose, these salty puddles are like hidden “treasure.” They wander over and start licking up the salty water, completely ignoring the fact that they’re right next to moving cars. Even more amusing, some moose go straight for the road itself and start licking it. Yes, really!

But the story doesn’t end there. Imagine you’re on a road trip in Northern Ontario, hoping to spot some wildlife. Suddenly, you see a moose by the side of the road. You slow down, curious to watch. Before you know it, the moose is walking up to your car. You might think, “Wow, this is amazing!”—until it starts licking your car’s bumper. It turns out that moose have figured out that cars pick up a salty residue from winter roads, and they’re more than happy to treat your car as a “mobile salt lick.”

At first, it’s a little funny. But soon you realize you’re in an awkward standoff with a one-ton animal that doesn’t seem in any hurry to leave. Moose don’t care if you’re in a rush, or that your car wasn’t meant to be on the menu. When there’s salt, they’re not budging until they’ve had enough.

Of course, this obsession with salt isn’t very safe for them (or drivers). Moose aren’t exactly agile when it comes to dodging cars, so being close to the road is very risky for them. To protect the moose, park rangers and wildlife officials have started setting up special salt licks deeper in the forest, hoping to draw them away from the roads. These salt stations give moose a safer place to satisfy their cravings without the dangers of traffic.

So, if you’re ever driving in moose country, keep an eye out! If you see a moose by the road, it’s probably just looking for a salty snack. And if one comes up to your car, don’t panic—it’s not trying to attack. It just wants a taste of that salty exterior. In the world of moose, salt is king, and they’ll go to pretty hilarious lengths to get it.