A Moose Family Walks Into a Yard …
A Moose Family Walks Into a Yard … and the babies eat the landscaping.
No joke. This happened today in the Settlers Bay neighborhood, where a mama moose casually strolled through our yard with two babies in tow.
Mom was taking a stroll. The babies were running for their lives … to catch up with Mom. Before racing after her, though, the little ones stopped at the lilacs for a light trim. Our front yard had become an all-you-can-eat salad bar.
Mom kept moving. One baby finished its snack and took off, little legs flying. The second wasn’t about to be left behind.
We captured it all on video and in photos from the comfort and safety of our living room. We stayed inside, the moose had the yard and everybody got to enjoy the show.
Mom had places to go. The babies had lilacs to trim and a whole lot of catching up to do. | Alaska Headline Living ©️
When the Yard Becomes the Wildlife Viewing Area
As adorable as those calves were, they were still wild animals, and Mom was still Mom. A cow moose can become aggressive when she feels threatened, especially when calves are nearby.
That’s why the best moose encounter is one where you stay out of the way. Watch from a safe distance, give the animals room to move and let them leave on their own.
What NOT to Do When Moose Visit Your Yard
Do NOT approach them. Not for a better photo, not for a closer look and definitely not because Mom seems relaxed. She’s still a moose.
Do NOT approach a calf. A calf by itself does not necessarily mean it has been abandoned. Mom may simply be nearby and out of sight.
Do NOT feed them. Feeding moose can make them comfortable around people and create dangerous situations for wildlife and neighbors.
Do NOT let the dog out. A dog can provoke a defensive response from a moose. Keep pets inside or safely under control until the animals move along.
Do NOT try to chase them away. No yelling, waving your arms or playing backyard wildlife wrangler. Give them an escape route and plenty of space. And never put yourself between a cow and her calf.
The Best Seat in the House
We didn’t have to go anywhere to see wildlife today. The wildlife came to us.
Mom strolled through like she had all the time in the world. The babies gave the lilacs a little haircut, realized Mom was getting ahead of them and turned a peaceful family outing into a full-speed calf scramble.
We stayed safely inside with our cameras and enjoyed the show.
That’s Alaska. Where you don’t have to go looking for wildlife because it strolls right through your yard, makes itself at home for a few minutes and leaves you smiling at the window long after it’s gone.
We feel pretty lucky to call this place home. Moments like this are a wonderful reminder of just how special life in Alaska can be.
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