“Rare Moose Sighting in Alberta City Garden”

April Ellingham was surprised this week when she spotted a moose with large ears in her Grande Prairie, Alta., home’s flower bed. Initially mistaking it for a rabbit, she realized it was a moose lounging in her garden. Ellingham, residing in the northern Alberta city, where deer sightings are common but moose sightings are rare, observed the moose wandering through her neighborhood for four days before settling down in her garden. Despite her efforts to prompt the moose to leave by contacting Alberta Fish and Wildlife, the animal lingered, even after officers used a siren to encourage its departure. Neighbors dubbed the moose “Bob,” with Ellingham later discovering it was actually a female and renaming it “Roberta.” Alberta Fish and Wildlife advised caution around moose, explaining that they may enter urban areas in search of food or to evade predators. They warned against approaching, feeding, or attempting to scare moose and suggested giving them space to move away. If a moose charges, authorities recommend seeking safety behind a secure object. Ellingham reported that Roberta had left her property, but uncertainty lingered about the moose’s potential return for another visit.