Moose Abound

With the deep snow come more moose traffic in town and out.  Recently two Valley women, in separate instances, were stomped by  moose while guarding their children at school bus stops.   Normally, moose will not bother you if you don't bother them.  But deputies report the moose are tired and hungry from trying to find enough to eat with the heavy snowfall.  So they are not in the best of moods.

There was also the odd visitor to Providence Hospital recently.   Providence staff members believe the moose wandered into the parking garage sometime Saturday, and nurse Leslie Bagley snapped its photo in a first-floor entrance Sunday morning, said hospital spokeswoman Ginger Houghton. By Monday, the moose was on the third floor of the garage, Houghton said.

"Moose wander in there, because moose wander into random places," Houghton said. "We have moose on our campus frequently, and it is not unusual to see them in our parking garage. But this was the first time a moose had wandered up to the third floor."

Security guards kept tabs on the moose and made sure people did not approach it, lest they be injured, Houghton said. The moose would get a bit agitated when anybody came near, she said.

The hospital staff became more concerned that the moose would continue up the parking garage, Houghton said. The staff decided it was time to take action, she said.

"They very carefully, and quietly, placed cars around the garage to lead it out," Houghton said. "This process took about eight hours."

On Monday, the moose was eventually able to exit on the ground floor, Houghton said.

 Neil was chopping ice from in front of my shop door yesterday when a young moose wandered over to snack on the front trees.  Wasn't at all disturbed by Neil's work, but I keep a close  eye on them as Neil can't move too quickly with his bad foot.  Any movement toward Neil and I would have been flying out the door with my shovel to pound his butt.  

It was just a skinny little one.  As it went on around the house, I could see it's ribs were showing.  If it wasn't illegal for good reason, I would have put out something for him to eat.