April Ellingham was taken aback when she spotted a moose lounging in her flower bed in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Initially mistaking it for a rabbit, Ellingham found the sight amusing as she shared her encounter with CBC News. She described the moose as “just chilling,” not in a rush to leave even after Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers tried to coax it away.
Living in a tranquil neighborhood in northern Alberta, Ellingham is accustomed to deer sightings but not moose. Over the past few days, the moose meandered through the area, eventually settling in her garden for a rest. Despite efforts to encourage the moose to move on, it returned to Ellingham’s property after wildlife officers departed.
Dubbed Bob by Ellingham’s husband, the moose was later identified as a female and renamed Roberta by Ellingham herself. The unusual visitor attracted attention from neighbors, who stopped by to capture photos of the celebrity moose.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife highlighted that urban moose sightings could be due to food scarcity or predator avoidance. While moose are typically non-aggressive, they may act defensively when feeling threatened or unwell. Wildlife officials cautioned against approaching or provoking moose and advised giving them space to retreat, especially in close encounters.
In case of a moose charge, authorities recommended seeking safety behind a solid object and contacting wildlife officials if the moose posed a threat. Ellingham reported that Roberta had left her property by Friday afternoon, but uncertainty lingered about the moose’s potential return for another visit.