A Mountie in northern British Columbia got the fright of his life when a moose climbed on top of his cruiser, smashed his driver's side window and struck him on the shoulder early Thursday.

The officer saw two moose crossing the road in Prince George, B.C., just before 1 a.m., and tried to stop another vehicle travelling toward the large animals.

But as the officer got close to the creatures, the bull moose attacked.

"The moose first broke the front grill and bumper, and then stepped on to the vehicle causing dents to the hood, roof and breaking the windshield," RCMP said in a release.

The animal continued to stomp and kick, and one of the animal's hoofs smashed the driver's side window, hitting the officer on the left shoulder. Aside from a bruise, he was not seriously injured.

Eventually, the moose slid off the cruiser's trunk.

"Both the culprit and accomplice departed the area on hoof," the release said.

RCMP are advising residents to keep a safe distance from wild animals.

"Although they are likely more scared of people than we are of them, we believe our officer would disagree," the release said.

Moose weigh an average of 800 kg and more than two-metres high.