There are several moose that call St. Albert home and can often be seen foraging, resting, or interacting with one other in the Grey Nuns White Spruce Forest. Moose weigh up to 1,200 pounds and can run nearly 60 kilometres per hour. They are unpredictable animals, particularly in fall during mating season from September to October and spring during calving season from May to June, and are most active during sunset and sunrise.

Safety Tips for Moose Sightings

• Moose should NOT be approached at any time, even if they appear calm and friendly.
• Maintain a distance of at least 36 metres (120 feet).
• Wild animals should NOT be fed, and do so can result in fines under the Wildlife Act. Feeding wildlife causes habituation and changes in behaviour. They may become more aggressive and less fearful of humans, increasing the risk of human/wildlife conflict.
• Do not allow dogs off-leash. Dogs resemble the moose’s main predator, the wolf, and they will sometimes go out of their way to aggressively attack a barking dog.
• Never approach calves that have been left along by their mothers, as the mother is likely not far away and will defend her calf agressively if you are too close.
• Bull moose should always be avoided.

If you are charged by a moose, run away as fast as you can and try to find a tree, building or other object to hide behind. Do not try to scare the moose by yelling or throwing items at it. A moose may charge at any time, with no prior warning signs. If the moose knocks you down before you reach safety, DO NOT fight; curl into a ball and cover your head.

An agitated moose will show the following behaviours, and indicates you are too close:

•  Neck and back hairs standing up
• Ears going back on its head
• Snorting
• Lip Licking
• Lowered head
• Swaying back and forth

Moose experiencing tick infestations, commonly in late March or early April, will have bald patches and in extreme cases may appear to have no hair. These moose can be stressed and aggressive.

More information about avoiding human-moose conflict is available on the Alberta Government website

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Related Pages

Reporting Injured or Aggressive Wildlife ›

Wild About Wildlife Information Sessions ›