Living with wildlife: Moose

Photo By Staff Sgt. Javier Alvarez | A moose walks along the fence line near the 525th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 1, 2016. Moose are common at JBER, at times resting near housing communities on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez)  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

11.14.2016

Story by Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez 

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson   

A small hill surrounds the Moose Crossing housing community at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The incline – blanketed with a late October glaze of Alaska’s finest – prompts young children, with parents in tow, to brave the path to the top of the summit.

Simultaneously, a moose approaches the bottom of the slope to rest – blocking the path of residents inclined to sled.

Instinctively, parents call the conservation law enforcement desk, in hopes of relocating the resting beasts – but much to the parents’ chagrin, the conservation law enforcement officers decline to move the moose.

When dealing with wildlife, conservation officers refer to the Living with Wildlife regulations published by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and co-signed by previous Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson commanders. The regulation helps outline if and when action is warranted.

“We try and help the best we can, but we’re not always allowed to do what everybody thinks we’re supposed to,” said James Wendland, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron chief conservation law enforcement officer. “In that situation the hill was the best place to leave the moose. After all, he was just interfering with some recreational sledding.”

As defined in the regulation, a nuisance moose will be herded from school grounds or heavily used public areas where they create an obvious safety hazard.

But a moose’s presence alone does not warrant it being relocated, said Wendland.

Nuisance moose will not be herded from yards, gardens, school bus stops, roads or recreational trails. In these situations, conservation officers or security forces personnel set up a cordon and inform passers of the moose’s presence.

“Running a moose off of a hill, or throwing a snowball to get them out of your yard, can make them mad,” Wendland said. “You may get them out of your yard if you do that, but what’s going to happen when it gets over to the neighbors’ side?”

Residents and visitors need to learn how to live with moose, Wendland said.

“It’s better and a lot safer to leave the moose and just monitor the people and traffic,” he said. “If we scare that moose in the wrong direction, or get it upset, it’s going to take its frustration out on somebody else.”

This year, conservation law enforcement officers have responded to more than 160 moose calls and more than 260 black bear calls.

For more information or to report a nuisance moose, contact the conservation law enforcement desk at 552-2436 .

• Date Taken: 11.14.2016
• Date Posted: 11.14.2016 21:04
• Story ID: 214614
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US