Moose visits Westminster School Campus in Simsbury

By John Fitts and Ronni Newton

A moose visited various parts of the Westminster School campus Friday morning, school officials said. 

The school was kind enough to share the photo on the Patch boards and give permission for use in our news section. 

"Students, faculty and staff were delighted to spot a moose on the central part of the Westminster School campus this morning," said Darlene Skeels, director of communications. "For many, it was their first moose sighting, and they were surprised by the moose's size. The visit created a lot of excitement and will not be forgotten soon."

Residents in the area of Winterset Lane also reported a sighting. 

Prior to the sighting, Andrew LaBonte, a wildlife biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said in the past week or so there have been reported ones in Simsbury, Canton, Farmington, near St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, and in West Hartford.

LaBonte believes there are anywhere from 100 to 150 moose in Connecticut, and this is the time of year when people are most likely to see them. In Connecticut the best chance of seeing one is in the Hartland area, near the MDC reservoir, he said. 

"Typically moose are pretty solitary, except during the time of year when the offspring are dispersing, or when they are mating," LaBonte said. At this time of year, the moose that were born last year are leaving their mothers and heading off on their own, he said.

Neither the DEEP nor any other organization will capture and relocate a moose. "The only time we'd get involved is if it gets contained somewhere or it's dangerous," LaBonte said. 

The DEEP does track the animals, however, and LaBonte urges anyone to report a sighting on their website.

If you have a photo of a moose feel free to share it! E-mail john.fitts@patch.com.