Living in Anchorage, Alaska, you get to meet a special 'neighbor.' It's the moose.

While it translates to 'big deer' in Korean, in reality, it is a truly large and imposing animal, just as its name suggests. When seen in photos or documentaries, it may look like just a big deer, but when you encounter one while walking down the street or in your front yard in Anchorage, you can't help but exclaim, "This is even bigger than a horse!"

The moose is a representative wildlife of Alaska, and since Anchorage is a place where nature meets the city, they often come down into urban areas. I thought I would only see them in the woods or mountains, but living here, I found that I could spot moose on the grassy areas by the road, in front of apartment complexes, and even in Walmart parking lots. The sight of a male moose, with its massive size, long legs, and much larger and grander antlers than the females, leisurely munching on tree branches is truly impressive.

Especially in winter, encounters with moose become more common. When deep snow accumulates, food becomes scarce in the mountains, prompting moose to come down to the city. Among Anchorage residents, there is a saying, "Be careful of moose on snowy days." If a moose is leisurely standing in the middle of the road on your way to work, cars will line up and wait until it decides to move. At first, it can feel frustrating, but soon you learn that "it's natural for people to yield to nature here."

Seeing a moose up close is overwhelming due to its size. An adult male can stand nearly 2 meters tall at the shoulder and can weigh over 600 kg.

Since they are larger than cars, if a moose collides with a vehicle on the road, not only will the car be damaged, but the driver can also be seriously injured. Therefore, in Anchorage, "deer crossing" signs are commonly seen at night, and there are not infrequent cases of accidents occurring while trying to avoid moose.

However, moose are both intimidating and strangely captivating creatures.

Watching them slowly walk through the snowy fields, chewing on branches, appears relaxed and peaceful, and a mother moose with her calf is incredibly endearing. In spring, it is common to see local residents joyfully saying, "I saw a calf moose this year too." Thus, moose are regarded as a kind of natural gift by the people of Anchorage.

Of course, there are many precautions to take. Moose are usually gentle, but they can become very aggressive if they feel threatened. Especially a mother moose with a calf can charge at people or dogs that come too close. In fact, Anchorage news often reports cases of pet dogs being threatened by moose or runners suddenly encountering moose and fleeing. Therefore, residents have a principle of keeping a safe distance and observing moose from afar.

I also cannot forget the first time I encountered a moose while living in Anchorage.

One winter morning, I was startled to see a huge shadow moving in my snow-covered front yard, and when I looked out the window, there was a large male moose leisurely munching on branches. At that moment, I felt two things: awe at how big it was and a sense of caution that "if I provoke it, it could be dangerous." But after a while, as I watched that massive creature casually cross the snowy field, a strange sense of calm washed over me. I realized then that in Anchorage, people do not dominate nature; rather, they live alongside it.

Seeing a moose in Anchorage is not just an experience of encountering wildlife.

It symbolizes a life where urban and natural coexist, and an environment where humans must be humble before nature. It is astonishing due to its size, intimidating when it comes close, yet the wonder of its very existence makes daily life in Anchorage all the more special.