Video of Moose Calf Reuniting with Mom in Alaska Has People Fired Up

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As beautiful and inspiring as nature is, it's equally uncaring and unfair. For every big, heartwarming nature documentary-worthy moment, there's another counterbalancing moment of loss or tragedy (indeed, as many have joked online, a predator catching their prey in a nature doc can be either tragic or triumphant depending on which animal the documentary's about).

Animal families don't always get to have happy endings in the wild- which is why it was such an inspiring relief when these two Alaskan road trippers filmed a lost moose calf reuniting with its mama. However, while the footage is borderline tearjerking, not everyone was pleased with what they witnessed!

As indicated by the tags under @brendahounds 's video, she and her friend Jeff P. were road tripping along the Richardson Highway in Alaska when they came upon this lanky moose calf, lost and alone. The sympathetic pair of friends feared the worst as the lonely calf clopped around the roadway in front of stopped vehicles, obviously scared and confused. It was heartbreaking.

Related: Cedar Point Visitors Freaked Out After Camel Escapes in Viral Video

Fortunately, luck was on the little calf's side that day, and a happy ending was in his cards. The trees along the side of the highway parted, and a large moose , presumably the baby's mama, came trotting out of the woods in front of the lost calf. The mama and baby moose reunited, and the calf dutifully followed his mama back off into the woods while the watchers softly cheered inside their car!

Why People Are Fired Up

At first glance, there's not a lot to find fault with in the video. The two moose got a wholesome and happy ending, and Brenda and Jeff did everything by the book: they stopped their car a ways back, stayed inside, and did everything they could to avoid startling the wild animals . But the video stirred up some frustration among commenters, though their anger was not directed at the moose nor at the two friends filming.

"I'm over here getting upset with the Ram driver, like back up, give them a moment," said @zamora_in_503, referring to the pickup truck on the other side of the highway.

"That truck driver was not patient, he didn't care that the baby was lost and looking for mama," agreed @gloriazamudio1216. "I am thankful mama and baby calf were [sic] back together again."

I'll admit, I was so engrossed by the moose calf's plight that I barely noticed the Dodge on my first watch. Looking back, I can see why people got mad. The other truck slowly but surely inched its way forward in an apparent attempt to get the calf to move out of the road.

Not only was this move kinda callous, but it was potentially unsafe as well. Maine's DOT advises drivers to give moose plenty of room if one is blocking the road, and not to try and drive around it or chase it off. They note that moose frequently travel in small groups, and that if you see one in the road, odds are high that more moose (and in this case, much larger moose) are nearby. A moose's aggression is easily triggered, and they have often been known to charge cars they perceive as threats. Noticed the mama moose's immense size, and how quickly she went from a walk to a gallop once she saw her baby? Imagine if she had thrown all of her bulk and power at the approaching Dodge instead.

Nature is both brutal and beautiful - why not increase your odds of getting a beautiful outcome? Listen to the experts, take care when driving through moose territory, and if you encounter one in the road, stop the vehicle at a safe distance and let it move away on its own. Not only will this help you avoid a dangerous encounter, but you might get to witness a little piece of nature in action.

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