Northwest Calgary has a new set of residents. A baby moose has been turning up across Scenic Acres, Royal Oak, and Valley Ridge over the past week, drawing out phone cameras and a few calls to Alberta Fish and Wildlife. A second moose has been spotted nearby likely the mother the pair moving quietly through the green spaces that back onto these communities. It's startling if you're not expecting it, but for this corner of the city, it's a pattern that keeps repeating itself.
Why Northwest Calgary Keeps Seeing Moose
The northwest edge of Calgary sits directly against wildlife corridors connected to Tsuut'ina Nation lands, and moose use them regularly. Suburban development pushing into wildlife habitat, combined with expanding urban park networks, has made it increasingly easy for moose to wander into populated areas in search of food.
There's another factor. Wolves and bears are the primary predators of moose, and moose may actively move closer to populated areas to avoid them. Inside city limits, those threats are gone. The green spaces, the tree cover, the relative quiet it's workable habitat.
Communities like Tuscany, Arbour Lake, Scenic Acres, and Valley Ridge have all had repeat sightings over the years. This week's pair is the latest in a long line.
What to Do If You See One
The instinct is to get closer. Don't. Alberta Fish and Wildlife advises keeping dogs indoors, clearing escape routes, and giving moose as much space as possible. A cow protecting a calf is the most unpredictable situation you can find yourself in. Holly Lillie, executive director of the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, put it plainly. "When they have young, when they have calves, we would encourage people to give moose an extremely wide berth," she said, adding that anyone who spots signs of agitation ears laid back, hair bristling is already too close and needs to leave immediately.
If you do need to get away, running is fine. "They are not going to be instinctively triggered by you running away," Lillie said. Dogs are a particular concern. Moose will sometimes go out of their way to kick at a barking dog because it resembles a wolf. Keep dogs inside until the moose has moved on. If a moose appears stuck in a neighbourhood with no clear way out due to roads or buildings, contact Alberta Fish and Wildlife at 310-0000, or the Report a Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 after hours.
Source: Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation
