Two juvenile moose were relocated from the Arbour Lake neighborhood in northwest Calgary after one of them kicked a resident’s dog on Monday evening, as reported by Alberta Fish and Wildlife. The incident occurred when the resident unknowingly let their dogs out in the backyard where the two moose calves, a male and a female aged around 1.5 years, were present. The calf kicked one of the dogs, causing minor injuries.
With assistance from the Calgary Fire Department, the moose were safely removed on Tuesday and released near the Harold Creek wildlife corridor northwest of Cochrane. This relocation mirrors a similar event in January involving a mother and calf pair in the Scenic Acres community, also relocated to the Harold Creek wildlife corridor after the mother moose displayed aggressive behavior towards a dogwalker.
Wildlife biologist Sara Jordan-McLachlan, specializing in human-wildlife conflicts in Calgary, highlighted that moose sightings are common in natural areas like Fish Creek Provincial Park and Weaselhead Flats, along with certain suburbs in the northwest and southwest. Calgary hosts resident moose that live and breed within city limits, along with transient moose using wildlife corridors such as those in the Tsuut’ina Nation vicinity.
Data from iNaturalist shows over 300 reported moose sightings in Calgary and nearby areas since 2020. The Miistakis Institute’s Calgary Connect program, utilizing remote cameras, recorded 242 moose within the city from 2017 to 2022, a fraction of the total deer species detections. Moose are noted to have substantial interaction with human activities in Calgary, suggesting they do not actively avoid areas frequented by people compared to other wildlife species.
Jordan-McLachlan advised against engaging with moose of any age or gender, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe distance and keeping dogs leashed. In case of an encounter, it is recommended to leave the area and provide ample space to the animal. The monitoring program by the Miistakis Institute indicated that moose activity peaks between 6-9 p.m. and diminishes from midnight to 4 a.m.