A moose fatally attacked an Alaska man on his three-acre property near Homer, Alaska, as he tried to photograph her newborn calves. The incident occurred just before noon on Sunday, May 19, 2024, when 70-year-old Dale Chorman and a friend were looking for the moose and her two newborns.
Alaska State Troopers reported that Chorman and his friend started running when the moose came charging out of the woods. When the friend turned around he saw Chorman on the ground and the moose standing over him. The exact cause of death remains unclear, as the friend did not witness the attack. Medics pronounced Chorman dead at the scene.
Chorman, a carpenter, builder, naturalist, and bear guide, was known for his deep understanding and respect for wildlife. His son, Nathan Spence-Chorman, emphasized that his father was highly experienced around wildlife and aware of its dangers. “This was not a hapless fool stumbling into danger — this was a person who went out looking for a great photo, knowing the risks and got caught in a dangerous moment,” Spence-Chorman said in a social media post.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety’s spokesperson, Austin McDaniel, mentioned that the thick brush in the area might have contributed to the incident. “Dale had remarked the previous day that the brush was particularly thick this year — thick enough to get closer than intended and surprise a wild animal by accident,” McDaniel said.
Female moose, known as cows, typically give birth between mid-May and early June and fiercely protect their young. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game explains that mothers maintain a strong bond with their calves for the first year of their lives. “Cow moose with calves are among the most aggressive moose you’ll encounter,” McDaniel noted. The department advises giving space to cow moose during calving season due to their protective nature.
Chorman’s family does not want the moose to be killed. “She was just protecting her offspring,” Spence-Chorman said. “Dale would have accepted this outcome, as he died doing what he loved.” The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is concerned about public safety but is not specifically pursuing killing the moose unless it continues to present a threat.
This marks the second deadly moose attack in Alaska in the past 30 years. The first occurred in 1995 when a moose stomped a 71-year-old man to death on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. In that case, students harassed the moose and its calf for hours, agitating the animals.
Dale Chorman’s passion for wildlife was evident in his life and work. In the 1980s, he hitchhiked to Alaska and met his wife, Dianne, while she was on a trip to view bears. Chorman guided her to a nearby river lodge. He was not only a professional guide for brown bear photography but also an avid birder and wildlife photographer.
As the investigation into the incident continues, those who knew him will remember Chorman’s dedication to capturing the beauty of wildlife.
