A moose has been spotted making her rounds through the community for the last week and may well be on her way west of town.
Spotted last week in Heartland, then Sunset Ridge, and West Valley, photographer Mike Reece has compiled a collection of photographs of her travels from a distance.
This morning, he hit the trail on his fat bike to see if she was still in town and believes she is heading west towards the Stoney Nakoda Nation.
However, if you do spot this moose or others, a word to the wise--keep your distance. If you have a dog, that goes doubly. They love kicking them (more below).
"She's a gentle beast unless provoked," observes Reece.
Fish and Wildlife agrees.
"Normally, moose are not aggressive; however, a moose that is stressed, a bull moose in the fall rut, or a cow moose protecting her young may be easily provoked into an attack," states an information bulletin from Fish and Wildlife.
An agitated moose may show some of the following behaviours:
- neck and back hairs standing up
- ears going back against its head
- snorting
- lip licking
"Always keep your distance from any wildlife, even if they appear calm or friendly," officials stress.
If you are charged by a moose, they recommend running away as fast as you can or trying to find a car, tree, or building to hide behind. If the moose knocks you down before you reach safety, do not fight--curl up into a ball and cover your head.
Fish and Wildlife also recommends the following:
How to prevent confrontation with a moose
- To help prevent a possible confrontation, do not allow your dog to harass the moose, and do not try to scare the moose off by yelling or throwing things.
- Never approach moose calves that have been left alone by their mothers. The mother may have temporarily left the calf in a safe spot and may not be too far away. Moose mothers can also be very protective. If she senses that you are too near her calf, she may defend them.
What to do if there is a moose in your yard
- If you live in an urban neighbourhood where the moose may have difficulty returning to the wild because of roads, buildings, or other barriers, contact the nearest Fish and Wildlife office at 310-0000, or if outside business hours, call the Report a Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.
- If you live on an acreage or other location that provides easy access to the wild, allow the moose to move off on its own time. The moose may just be resting or (in warmer temperatures) trying to cool down in the shade of the buildings.
- Ensure escape routes are kept clear, and the curtains are drawn on patio doors and large windows so the moose doesn't mistake them for escape routes.
- If the moose is blocking a route you need, try to find another way around or wait for it to leave.
- Keep your dog inside. A moose will sometimes go out of its way to kick at a barking dog because it is annoying it, causing it stress, or distracting it from making an easy exit from your yard. The moose may be extra defensive because dogs resemble wolves, moose's main predator.
- Children and cats should also be kept indoors until the moose has moved on.
Our thanks to professional photographer Mike Reece for sharing these images with the community.
