Beware of the Urban Moose!

[urbanguy]

Snow complicates life for Alaska's moose

Source: Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Deep mountain snow usually drives moose to seek lower ground in Anchorage, but the snow piling up in town this winter is a bit much even for the stilt-legged animals. So they're going where they'd rather not, choosing major roads, plowed sidewalks and groomed trails to sidestep the vast cushion of snow in neighborhoods and greenbelts left during a remarkably temperamental month in Alaska's largest city.

The half-ton ungulates are even showing up downtown, placidly gnawing on bare trees at busy intersections.

"They don't want to walk through deep snow either," said state wildlife biologist Rick Sinnott. "Most moose don't really want to interact with people and cars and dogs."

Snow removal crews are overwhelmed with the aftermath of storms that dumped almost 76 inches of snow midway through a season that normally totals 68 inches. It'll be weeks before they get a handle on the massive chokehold, but if the weather pattern continues the city's moose could suffer

[tombarnes]

When I was staying at the Sheraton in Anchorage a few years ago, a bewildered moose was poking around the parking lot of the hotel. A group of bar patrons braved the temperature (about -28) to stare at the bewildered moose. Eventually, the moose shuffled off to find food somewhere else. This was not too long after a Japanese tourist had been killed while trying to photograph a moose. Getting too close to these animals is never a good idea.

[Jaykar]

Hahaha funny. Here we dont have problems with mooses since we dont have them here, not even in a zoo but we do have that problem with cows and horses.

[dgreco]

lol that is awesome.

[urbanguy]

tombarnes, thats scary. I've heard that they are really aggressive and just seeing how huge they are you bet i'd stay away.

[brewers0048]

I remember when I lived in Anchorage, if there was a moose in the area around the time school was about to end for the day, we'd have to stay in the building until the moose left. There were many times we had moose in our front yard too. You have to be really careful sometimes.