A woman who went on a canoeing adventure stumbled across a massive animal and captured amazing footage of the majestic creature.
Miranda Connor and her family were camping in Algonquin Park, a protected area of Ontario, Canada, when they decided to go canoeing from Rock Lake to Whitefish Lake,
While taking a leisurely ride through the scenic waters, Connor and her family spotted a giant moose, something that “shocked” them, she told Newsweek.
In a video posted to TikTok, which has received over 962,000 views since it was first shared on July 9, Connor shows a family member in front of her slowly canoeing down a river, surrounded by trees and bushes.
A moose is seen drinking from a river in Canada, spotted by canoers. A woman enjoyed the sight of the animal for 10 minutes while on a camping trip with her family.
@mirandaconnor0/TikTok
They then spot a giant moose coming out of a corner, a creature they got to spend 10 minutes admiring.
“When you’re casually canoeing in Algonquin Park, you stumble on the most amazing scenery,” Connor wrote in the video’s text overlay. The giant moose can then be seen drinking from the river on its own.
“He could charge at us for sure,” she can be heard saying in the clip. She wrote in the video’s caption: “Still can’t believe we witnessed this gorgeous boy and got to sit with him for 10 minutes.”
Canoeing is among the popular outdoor activities that many people enjoy in Canada. In 2022, canoeing and kayaking was the fifth most popular outdoor recreational activity in Canada, according to Statista.
Moose, which are found in many parts of Canada, can grow up to six feet tall, according to National Geographic. Meanwhile, they can weigh about 1,800 pounds.
Moose have been known to charge at people, says Canada Parks. Signs of an aggressive moose include ears pinned back, mouth smacking, raised neck hair, foot stomping, swaying head, and small charges.
People who encounter a moose while hiking or canoeing should speak calmly, secure children and pets, and back away slowly.
Connor revealed in the comments section of the video that other canoes came along after her and the moose decided to run across the water.
TikTok users took to the comments to react to Connor’s breathtaking moose encounter during her canoe excursion. One user, @sneaker_freaker_ang, said: “Don’t move whatever you do.”
“I did three week canoe trips from ages 13-19 in northern Ontario and the animals we saw were incredible. Had some close encounters with black bears too,” commented Munro McLaren.
“Last summer I came across a mom and her two calves in that same small river between Rock and Whitefish. I have endless video and photos spanning almost 20 minutes before we went on our way. Magical!” said ms.alexc.
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