This past Saturday morning a wandering moose found its way into Saskatoon. The moose was first reported in the Buena Vista area, which is on the East side of Saskatoon, around 7:30 am. It was believed that the moose was female so officers herded it to the river bank, hoping to reunite it with another moose calf spotted on the west side of the city. The move took a few hours and the moose was helped along by conservation officers and a rower, but the 800 pound calf was eventually tranquilized and moved south of the city, near Pike Lake, which is home to a small moose herd.
Conservation officers have had to deal with several moose in the past few weeks and that wildlife is intruding on the city with increasing frequency, but this thought leads to controversy as it is actually us humans who are intruding on the wildlife.
It is not surprising, with the urban sprawl that happens in every city but specifically with the new neighbourhoods in Saskatoon being developed at the speed they are, that animals are confused. The steady growth in new houses for sale in Saskatoon has been spreading out in almost every direction of the city which means that wildlife must move away from their natural habitat.
New housing developments in Saskatoon must go on, but we have to continue to show tolerance to animals that get confused as long as they are not putting Saskatoon residents at risk.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.