What to do if there’s a moose at your door? This B.C. woman had to figure it out

Chelsea Coles was in for quite the surprise when she opened her door on Monday morning in Fort St. John, northeastern B.C. Despite the frigid temperatures well below -30 C, she was met with a blast of heat instead. And then, to her shock, she saw a moose right in front of her.

The encounter was startling for both Coles and the moose. “I scared her, she scared the crap out of me, I jumped back, she jumped up, and the deck was really slippery, so she was sliding all around,” Coles recounted. She quickly slammed the door shut and screamed in terror at the unexpected visitor.

Determined to get on with her day, Coles grabbed a shovel and tried to shoo the moose away. After some effort, the moose started to walk down the road, seemingly resolving the situation. However, to Coles’ surprise, the moose returned and was once again curled up in front of her door when she came back home.

Unsure of what to do next, Coles contacted the Conservation Officer Service for guidance. They advised her to wait it out as long as the moose wasn’t being aggressive. So, Coles sat in her car for an hour in freezing weather, hoping the moose would eventually move along. She even took some pictures and sought advice on Facebook.

Despite trying various tactics to encourage the moose to leave, it lingered in the area for several hours, even making its way to her neighbor’s house. The moose eventually wandered back into the woods after munching on part of a tree.

Moose are not typically aggressive animals and tend to avoid urban areas. They can be attracted to gardens and trees as a food source. While they are generally docile, moose can pose a danger if threatened due to their size and strength.

Coles, although startled by the encounter, never felt in danger as she kept her distance and had her car nearby. With the weather warming up, she hopes the moose will continue to thrive in the wild. “She was definitely really cute,” Coles remarked, reflecting on the unexpected visit.

Encounters with wildlife like moose are not uncommon in northern B.C., especially in areas surrounded by wilderness like Fort St. John. It’s important to remember to never approach wild animals and always give them an escape route. Moose can move quickly and may charge if they feel threatened.

Overall, Chelsea Coles’ unexpected tango with a moose was a memorable experience that highlighted the importance of coexisting with wildlife in their natural habitats.