When a moose comes to town

They are a symbol of our province and they are often a welcomed source of food. We see a lot of them throughout the year - whether on a highway or in a neighbour's yard. This doesn't stop many, however, from clamouring to get a closer look when moose make their way into town.

The Georgian receives a lot of photos of moose during the year, but recently came upon a scene where a conservation officer was trying to help a (possibly) very frightened moose back to a safe and wooded area. His job appeared to be made all the more difficult because of the throngs of spectators-both in vehicles and on foot-who tried to get a closer look at the animal.

We contacted Michael Bennett with the local branch of the Department of Natural Resources, District 14, to find out how a moose is led out of town and what the public can do to help this process along.

Q and A:

Georgian: How often does your department receive calls of moose in settled areas?

Bennett: We get 10 to 12 calls a year reporting moose in Stephenville. In most cases the moose find their own way out to safety. However, there are times when action is required to protect public safety.

G: When a call comes in, what does the conservation officer do?

B: When we get a call, a Conservation Officer is sent to locate the moose and decide the best option to protect public safety and get the moose safely out of town. Usually this means trying to corral the moose in the direction away from commercial and residential areas. This is done by slowly approaching the moose and directing it in the desired direction and blocking off undesired routes.

G: How long can it take to wrangle a moose back to a wooded or safe area?

B: It can take a few minutes if it goes well - or several hours. Often the RCMP is needed to help with traffic control, in some cases we have asked Stephenville Search and Rescue to assist.

G: What is the number one deterrent to a conservation officer being able to carry out his or her job?

B: The biggest obstacle to a Conservation Officer doing this job is the gathering of people to observe the moose and take pictures. This congestion of traffic and people blocks escape routes for the moose and increases stress on the animal. It also greatly increases the danger to the public.

G: What can the public do to aid a conservation officer in doing his or her job?

B: If people see a moose in town, they should report it to the RCMP or Dept. of Natural Resources. They should stay away from the area for their own safety and safety of the moose. A moose trapped in town can be unpredictable and very dangerous.

G: What should the public be most aware of in this type of moose in a settled area situation?

B: If a moose is chased, it can become exhausted quickly and very stressed. This could result in injury or even a fatal outcome for the moose.

G: And what of the moose in downtown Stephenville recently?

B: The moose that was in town last week was safely directed into a wooded area near town.

reporter@thegeorgian.ca