Elko Daily Press 1st Reported: You don’t have to be too sharp-eyed to spot the large mammal that’s been hanging around Paradise Valley. For the past month, Nevada Department of Wildlife officials have received reports that a moose – the largest living relative in the deer family – was spotted wandering among the sagebrush in the country north of Winnemucca. It’s believed to have crossed over from Idaho.
Nevada isn’t full of ideal moose habitat, according to Chris Healy, NDOW public information officer, leading biologists to suspects the animal will eventually wander back, though he said it’s difficult to predict what will become of the animal.
In the meantime, the department has heard from many excited wildlife watchers.
“They’re big powerful animals,” Healy said. “They’re just gorgeous.”
The moose is male, estimated to be a little older than 1 year. It has budding antlers.
Although moose sightings aren’t reported daily, weekly or even monthly, they aren’t unheard of.
Joe Doucette, NDOW education coordinator for the Elko office, noted that it’s not uncommon for moose to wander south into northeastern Nevada from Idaho, usually only to find poor habitat and a lack of mates.
Moose prefer lush stream bottoms and lots of vegetation, such as willows, according to NDOW.
Doucette guessed that the young moose was exiled from the herd by a mature bull.
Healy said that’s a possibility, adding that drought can also spur animals to migrate into new areas.
“These young males are the ones that pioneer out,” Healy said. “But when he contemplates finding a female moose, he’s going to be out of luck.”
Doucette said of all the areas in northeastern Nevada, Jarbidge is the most likely place for a herd to settle, though that hasn’t happened.
Around this same time last year, a moose traipsed around north of Carlin. Doucette doubted the moose in Paradise Valley is the same one that visited the Carlin area in 2013.
“Once they’re mature, then they’re not pushed out,” he said.
Biologists plan to keep an eye on the animal while doing aerial counts of other animals.
Nevada has no open season for moose, thus it’s illegal for hunters to shoot it.
For spectators, Healy recommends they enjoy the animal, which might appear docile, from a distance.
“Unlike elk, mule deer or antelope, moose can be aggressive toward people,” he said. “They’re a big powerful animal.”