There was an unexpected sight that Marci LaHuis and her daughter, Kinley, saw this afternoon in the Soo.
It was LaHuis' first time seeing a moose in person and, she said, it was amazing to share the experience with her daughter.
LaHuis is co-owner and practice manager at Sault Animal Hospital.
Just after 2 p.m., they just got on the entrance ramp to SB I-75 off Easterday Avenue when they noticed a moose in the tree stand on the west side of the ramp.
LaHuis stopped and rolled down the window to take a picture and to say "Hi."
"Moose are not generally dangerous unless you mess with them. In this case, it was by itself and was pretty docile as we talked to it from a distance. However, if a cow has a calf with it, they will do whatever they need to do to protect their young. It is always recommended to never get close and just admire from afar," she explained.
It's not completely rare to see a moose within city limits.
"Moose tend to migrate, like most animals, in the winter. They will travel to search for lower elevations, as it is warmer and there are more food sources. It is not very common for them to be in populated areas in the winter. More than likely, it is here because of the bountiful food sources we have in the area. We saw it having a good meal by eating pine needles off the trees," she said.
While it might be tempting to get close to a moose especially to capture that special moment for social media, LaHuis recommends not to.
"If you encounter a moose, be cautious! Never approach a moose, or any other wild animal as they are unpredictable. I recommend watching and admiring from a distance. As a lifelong resident here in Sault Ste. Marie, it was jaw dropping! I have never seen a moose here. It was definitely a surprise and I am really glad I was able to share that experience with my daughter," she concluded.
