DIDSBURY - Didsbury is well known for its resident moose population. Almost any time of year, people can see the big and goofy yet charming animals eating and lounging around their neighbourhoods.
District Fish and Wildlife officer for the Sundre district, Adam Mirus, told the Gazette that people should be cautious around any wildlife, including moose.
Having moose around is "not common in all towns but it is common in Didsbury. We tend to get lots of moose coming in and making the town home. For the most part it's been good."
In the past officers have had reports of kids throwing rocks at the moose or the odd dog that tries to chase them, he said.
"Of course, we discourage that," he said. "We've passed information along to the schools in the past educating the public to just give them their distance. We ask people who have dogs off the leash to not let them chase or go after the moose.
"That can result in the dog being kicked and hurt. It can be fatal for dogs. The cow will eventually give chase and kick and stomp. That's one of the reasons we tell people to keep their distance and they'll be fine."
Mirus said as long as people give the animals space they can enjoy the view.
"Not many people get the opportunity that people in Didsbury get to have moose walk around Didsbury," he said. "It's nice to have. The reason they're in town is because it's safe. There are no predators. They're not being hunted, obviously, if they're in the town.
"They get tired of eating the same stuff. When they come into town they get to eat the ornamental trees, the expensive stuff that people put in their flower beds. They like it. I'm sure some of the people don't. It's a give and take."
One calf sadly passed away in a Didsbury resident's backyard recently. The mother and other calf seemed fine.
Mirus said that no necropsy would be performed on the calf.
"It probably got hit by a vehicle or passed (away) for whatever reason. Mortality on multiple calves is pretty high anyway. There's no reason to suspect (poisoning) or anything like that," he said.
Mountain View County's Be Wild Smart website calls on residents and visitors to be cautious around wildlife.
"Mountain View County (MVC) is situated between the wilderness of the national parks and provincial forest reserves to the west and the extensively culitivated agricultural lands to the east. MVC residents share their land with numerous species of wildlife and human-wildlife conflicts will arise, particularly with bears and cougars."
The website states that the prime focus for wildlife is the search for food.
"Bears, cougars and other wildlife use the valley bottoms and river corridors to move, feed, and sustain their populations. Since the same habitat is also coveted by humans, this creates a potential for conflict."
The site has several suggestions for being smart around bears, such as removing or securing attractants in your yard such as garbage, pet food, bird feeders and compost piles.
When it comes to cougars, be aware of your surrounding especially at dawn and dusk and near the edges of bushy and forested areas.
For more tips, check out mountainviewcounty.com/park-recreation-culture/be-wild-smart.
Mirus also recommends people join the Didsbury moose Facebook page – Moose on the Loose Didsbury and Area – to keep up on moose sightings in and around town.
