JACKSON, Wyo. — In a typical winter where the snow piles up in the mountains, it’s not out of the ordinary to see wildlife scrounging around the outskirts of town, looking for something to eat that’s not buried in snow. But with such a mild winter so far, it is a bit odd to see a moose wandering through downtown neighborhoods.
Buckrail reader Edward Dove captured photos and a video of this female moose, who was mostly minding her own business and snacking on some willow branches on Friday, Feb. 6, near the base of Snow King. Nearby residents notified Wyoming Game and Fish Department, who sent over a staffer to check it out, though nothing seemed to be amiss.
According to local residents, the moose hung around the neighborhood, taste testing a few different trees, then meandered on its way. The big ungulate didn’t seem to be bothered by the vehicles, fences or a few onlookers.
With town and neighborhoods sitting so close to wild public lands, weirder wildlife sightings have happened in the past. Moose have been spotted fairly often in town, especially during a winter with above-average snow. Bears sometimes make an appearance on Pine and Aspen Drive, near Snow King. Though, the most famous cameo was when Grizzly 399 and her four cubs sauntered through the parking lot at the Jackson Hole Police Department in November of 2021.
