2 Laid-Back Moose Drop In Unannounced For Short Visits

Young and adventurous, they just wanted to see the world.

Unfortunately, they got only as far as north Spokane.

For the second time in two weeks, a yearling moose wandered through the North Side, casually approaching a convenience store, causing confusion and excitement in civilization.

“He stood at the corner, watching the cars go by,” said Stephan McGuane, who saw the moose at the corner of Nevada and Magnesium Sunday night. “He didn’t look too excited, but lots of cars stopped, and everyone was pretty worked up about seeing a moose.”

The moose, whose gender hasn’t been determined, was likely a brother or sister of the animal that fell asleep at Ritter’s Nursery earlier this month, said John McColgin of the state Fish and Wildlife Department.

“It seems a little more than a coincidence to have two in the same area in two weeks,” said McColgin.

It seems as if their parents raised them well. Neither of the horse-size mammals caused a problem.

The moose at Nevada and Magnesium turned around and trotted north after being confronted by city police and county sheriff’s deputies.

The Ritter’s moose was so mellow and tired that he ate a few plums, lay down and patiently waited for McColgin to arrive.

“What he was interested in was the stuff he didn’t have to bend over to eat,” said Bill Ritter, owner of the nursery.

McColgin tranquilized the moose and released him at Blanchard’s Pass, north of Mount Spokane.

“That was the best moose I’ve ever had,” he said fondly.

McColgin doubted the first moose returned.

“They generally learn their lesson and don’t come back,” said McColgin.

In fact, moose usually stay away from convenience stores until the spring, when mating urges make them more rambunctious.

And besides, McColgin said, moose don’t have much use for people. The moose likely came south after feeling crowded in their natural habitat north of Spokane.

“(The first moose) seemed like he was out looking for his part of the world, and it didn’t make a difference what got in the way,” said McColgin.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT TO DO A moose on the loose? Call 911 and back away, wildlife authorities suggest. Moose dislike being crowded.