Moose takes morning stroll through Fredericton streets

If you were in south-end Fredericton Thursday morning you might have seen a moose on the loose.

News of the moose started making its way around social media before 9 a.m. with people, and even the University of New Brunswick, tweeting about the animal running in backyards and even on UNB’s campus.

Energy and Resource Development (ERD) confirmed that at 8:10 a.m. they received a call  at the Provincial Mobile Communications Centre about the moose.

In an e-mail to Global News spokesperson Anne Bull said the moose was first spotted at the corner of Reid Street and Kings College Road.

The animal was then spotted by the Aitken Centre at UNB, followed by spottings behind businesses on Regent and Prospect streets. She said it was last seen near a wooded area at 11:30 a.m.

“This little creature didn’t stay anony-moose for long! Hope it found its way home safely,” tweeted UNB Fredericton.

“Spotted: An adolescent moose scouring UNB Fredericton’s campus for our wildlife friendly gardens- looks like they’re working!” tweeted UNB Sustainability.

Bull could not confirm the age but said it was likely the yearling — meaning it was a year old or in its second year — entered from a wooded area outside the city.

“Occasionally, moose will move into urban areas at night when it’s dark and quiet, then become agitated in morning as human activity leads to more noise,” she wrote.

Residents who see a moose in the city are reminded to call their local ERD District office and stay away from the animals. Bull added the “preferred option” is to encourage the animal to move back to a wooded area or to prevent disturbance and allow the animal to “bed down” until the night so they can return to their home.