Moose, coyotes reported in Saugus
An adult bull (male) Moose in Saugus, Massachusetts
Despite its fairly dense population Saugus boasts a plethora of wildlife, with wild turkey, fox and deer sightings common throughout the year. Is it time to add moose to the list of furry inhabitants?
On Veterans Day police received a call shortly before 5 p.m. from someone who reported seeing a moose in the roadway at the intersection of Walnut Street and Elm Street. An officer responded immediately but an area search was negative for the animal.
Although he's never heard of a moose roaming through Saugus, Canine Control Officer Harold Young said it wouldn't come as a shock if the report was accurate.
"It doesn't surprise me, the (moose) population has been growing in the state," Young said.In 2007 biologists estimated close to 1,000 moose live in Massachusetts, according to MassWildlife. Young recalled a few years back when a resident reportedly observed a moose in neighboring Melrose.A trend Young has noticed in recent years is more animals infringing on the suburbs. Forced out of their natural habitats by increased development, hungry animals seem to be ranging far and wide in search of food.
Young speculated that a moose could have followed the path created by power lines through forests and made its way south to Saugus. The reported sighting came near Birch Pond, which backs up to the Lynn Woods Reservation.
Anyone who spots a moose in a densely populated area is asked to call police right away. Young also advised motorists who encounter a moose to pull to the side of the road and let it wander off without disruption.
An adult bull (male) moose can reach a weight upwards of 1,000 pounds and poses a threat to drivers."They can do a lot of damage to a vehicle," Young noted.
In other wildlife news, Young told the Advertiser he has fielded a number of calls over the last few months regarding coyotes.
Two weeks ago a police officer observed six coyotes foraging through the YMCA parking lot, Young said. A mother also reported two coyotes hanging out on David Drive as her son was about to get off his school bus.The fact a lot of cats are going missing could also be attributed to an increase in the coyote population, Young said.
Young urged anxious residents to take precautions to deter coyotes from getting comfortable on their properties. He mentioned banging pots together or using an air horn as two possibilities to scare off the animals.
Although he's never heard of a moose roaming through Saugus, Canine Control Officer Harold Young said it wouldn't come as a shock if the report was accurate.
"It doesn't surprise me, the (moose) population has been growing in the state," Young said.In 2007 biologists estimated close to 1,000 moose live in Massachusetts, according to MassWildlife. Young recalled a few years back when a resident reportedly observed a moose in neighboring Melrose.A trend Young has noticed in recent years is more animals infringing on the suburbs. Forced out of their natural habitats by increased development, hungry animals seem to be ranging far and wide in search of food.
Young speculated that a moose could have followed the path created by power lines through forests and made its way south to Saugus. The reported sighting came near Birch Pond, which backs up to the Lynn Woods Reservation.
Anyone who spots a moose in a densely populated area is asked to call police right away. Young also advised motorists who encounter a moose to pull to the side of the road and let it wander off without disruption.
An adult bull (male) moose can reach a weight upwards of 1,000 pounds and poses a threat to drivers."They can do a lot of damage to a vehicle," Young noted.
In other wildlife news, Young told the Advertiser he has fielded a number of calls over the last few months regarding coyotes.
Two weeks ago a police officer observed six coyotes foraging through the YMCA parking lot, Young said. A mother also reported two coyotes hanging out on David Drive as her son was about to get off his school bus.The fact a lot of cats are going missing could also be attributed to an increase in the coyote population, Young said.
Young urged anxious residents to take precautions to deter coyotes from getting comfortable on their properties. He mentioned banging pots together or using an air horn as two possibilities to scare off the animals.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment