As the equivalent of Military Police in the Air Force, Security Force Airmen must be prepared to deal with a range of threats. There could be gate runners, intruders on the flight line, or just the freezing cold and searing heat that comes with being on your feet all day. But in Alaska, airmen face another danger: huge six-foot-tall creatures that weigh more than 1,000 pounds sporting massive antlers that can stretch up to six feet wide.

Forget China and Russia. These creatures are the real threat, and they are known as the “moose”.

“I certainly wouldn’t be on the front line stopping one of these bio-tanks from going where it pleases,” wrote a commenter on the unofficial Air Force subreddit, where a base member Common Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska community posted an image of a moose blocking traffic outside the base Thursday.

“Oh I spent my time at JBER,” said another. “I know how scary moose are.”

A moose did indeed block traffic Thursday at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Staff Sgt. Michael Pfeiffer, of the 673rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs shop, confirmed for Task & Purpose. Lights and sirens were used to safely remove the animal from traffic when it became apparent that it would pose a danger to motorists.

“Typically, [security forces] are not supposed to move wildlife unless there is a serious or life-threatening emergency because a restless moose is very unpredictable,” Pfeiffer said, citing a base game warden. “Using lights and sirens is the method used, although optimally Fish and Game will be called.”

The moose was “solid size,” but it was difficult to get its exact dimensions, Pfeiffer said. From the photo, it looks like he’s dwarfing a nearby truck, but that could be because he was standing on a median or was closer to the camera than the vehicle.

“Every time I see one emerge from the wild it’s like seeing a whale surface,” wrote Joint Base member Elmendorf Richardson who posted the photo on Reddit. “Never really gets old.”

To be clear, moose are herbivores and are unlikely to eat you, your fellow fighters, or your family and friends. But God help you if you get on the wrong side of these gentle giants. Indeed, on the base’s website, a section is devoted to advice on how to behave well in the presence of animals. Tip number one: do not approach moose, especially female moose, called cows, which can be aggressive when they have calves around. Also, do not feed the moose, which is dangerous and illegal, and be careful not to let the dogs approach, as the moose might feel threatened by them.

“The key to coexisting with moose is to avoid confrontations by giving moose plenty of space,” the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife wrote. “Never approach a moose!”

A moose’s body language is also telling: when you have your ears pricked up, they can be curious but not threatened. However, when his ears are back, his neck hair is up, or he is licking his lips, he may feel stressed or threatened and may charge. When this happens, all you can do is “hide behind something, like a tree” or “run if you’re one step ahead,” according to the basic website.

“If you are knocked down by a moose: roll into a ball, protect your head and stay still until the moose retreats,” warns the base’s website.

This background information makes the task all the more daunting for the security force airmen who had to somehow convince this massive ungulate – a hoofed mammal – to clear the road. In fact, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that sometimes you just have to wait.

“The moose will move away over time,” the ministry wrote on its website. “It can take half an hour or more, but it’s usually worth the wait. Sometimes a loud noise or movement scares a moose, but moose that are used to people are not easily chased away.

In fact, they seem to roam bases in Alaska with some regularity. Moose blocked traffic there six times in 2021, Pfeiffer said, and they’re not the only large creatures to do so.

“Bears sometimes roam the roads or sidewalks,” Pfeiffer said, quoting the game warden. “They’re more predictable than a moose and have a bigger field of vision, so they’re easier to ward off.”

It’s not just that the moose stop to inspect the base. Sometimes they’re drawn to the flavor of road salt carried by melting ice, Pfeiffer said. They will even be attracted to people’s sidewalks for this reason. Unfortunately, sometimes encounters become dangerous: seven moose were hit by vehicles in 2021, says the aviator.

In addition to making appearances at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Moose actually has a large Air Force presence. The C-17 Globemaster III, the 30-year-old cargo plane that can do anything from dropping paratroopers to carrying a 69-ton M1 Abrams main battle tank, is big, tough and slow, but it’s not That’s not why his nickname is The Moose. No, it’s because of the noise the plane’s pressure relief vents make during ground refueling, which some say sounds like the sound of a cow moose in heat.

“It’s a popular nickname, with squadron posters and t-shirts dedicated to it,” Darrell Lewis, the 437th Airlift Wing historian, told Task & Purpose last year.

“It’s quite common to hear the C-17 called the Moose at work,” an Air Force pilot told Task & Purpose. “We are all part of the Moose Gang. Just like the C-130s are the Herc Gang, and the KC-135s are the Gas Wagon Mafia. He’s a cool unifier among aircrew.

Who knows, maybe the moose will continue to roam Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson because they hear C-17s from the base’s 144th Airlift Squadron being refueled there. Stranger things have happened, like the time a raccoon chased a fire crew of American soldiers out of their Stryker.

Bottom line: If you’re visiting Alaska and come across a giant creature with antlers, give it the right of way!

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