REGINA – In the opening credits of the TV show “Northern Exposure,” a moose wanders through the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska, without much fuss.
But it’s been a different scene in some Prairie cities where moose have recently taken strolls.
Saskatoon police officers and conservation officials had to tranquilize and move two bull moose who were “enjoying the lush vegetation in a green space” in the city on Saturday. That came after three separate moose sightings May 27, including one near the Saskatoon Marathon route.
Earlier this month, a young bull moose wandered onto a runway at Regina International Airport, causing at least one flight to be delayed. It was one of a handful of moose spotted in Regina over the past few weeks.
In Edmonton, four young moose were tranquilized in the city’s west end on May 29. Two full-grown moose were spotted walking around a playground at a school in Brandon, Man., on June 6.
Rob Tether, a wildlife biologist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, said typically, six to 10 moose wander into Regina or Saskatoon each year.
“For some reason … this year over a shorter period we seem to be having these doubling up,” Tether. “So we’ll see if the trend continues or will it stop and we’ll end up with our regular of six or eight moose.”
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Tether said there has been a gradual increase in the moose population, but that’s not why they seem to be heading into the cities.
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“The actual density or the number of moose per square kilometre is still extremely low in the south. It’s just that they happen to be congregated a little bit more and every time we get an incident, it looks like there’s lots of moose.”
It’s yearling moose – the young ones – that are roaming into the cities.
Tether said the animals have been with their mother through the winter and then she kicked them out to fend for themselves. They disperse looking for their own home range.
“Of course moose, they’re just moving in whatever direction and the cities are in their way and they’re trying to pass through and they get disoriented and that’s when we get called in to have to remove them,” Tether said.
Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, said moose are more concerned about following a watershed or a river than wandering near downtown.
River systems wind through both Saskatoon and Regina, creating the perfect habitat, he noted.
“Everything they need is easily available around a body of water. There’s good habitat, there’s good food,” Crabbe said from Moose Jaw.
“I guess one of the major reasons our moose population seems to be increasing is they have no natural predators here on the Prairies, so everything they need is readily available and they’re missing the one component that usually keeps them in check, which is predators.”
Hunting is the best way to keep moose in check in southern Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment’s approach to managing the increasing numbers of moose has been to create an annual hunter harvest across southern wildlife management zones. Quotas have increased from 250 antlerless tags in 2008 to 1,335 tags in 2012.
It may have to increase again, but that will take to determine, said Tether.
Crabbe has a tip for anyone who spots a moose in their neighbourhood.
“Like any other animal, you should give them a wide berth,” said Crabbe.
“You’ve got to be careful with moose. They’re not used to being pushed around. (They) certainly have the potential to be more aggressive than say a deer would be.”
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