So, A Likely Pregnant Moose Wandered Into A Hospital In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, AK — It’s cold in Alaska. How cold? It was around zero in Anchorage Monday, so cold that the automatic doors of a specialty clinic at Alaska Regional Hospital were stuck open and a female moose wandered in. She probably wasn’t seeking health care, though some of those who saw the spectacle said the moose appeared to be pregnant. Those who encountered the massive beast just thought she wanted to eat some fresh greens in the warmth of the lobby.

The greenery that decorates the lobby of Wise Physical Therapy, which is visible from outside the clinic, was probably all it took to entice the moose to come inside, hospital officials told television station KTUU.

The cow grazed for about 10 minutes, then moseyed along her way, hospital spokeswoman Kjerstin Lastufka told the station.

“She was just going about her business, having a morning snack," added Stephanie Hupton, who works at the clinic and captured video of the moose’s surprise visit on her cellphone camera.

Hupton, who moved to Anchorage from Carroll, Iowa, three years ago, works in the physical therapy clinic’s billing department. When a patient mentioned the security staff was monitoring a moose in the lobby, Hupton jumped at the chance to capture the unusual event.

“It’s definitely different than small-town Iowa,” Hupton, who has seen plenty of deer and cows in her home state, but never a moose, told The Associated Press. She definitely "didn't think we'd have a pet moose," she said.

The moose was pretty mellow during her visit, and neither the moose nor the people she encountered were injured. Moose are intimidating because they're so large, but Hupton said she never felt threatened.

The moose sauntered out as nonchalantly as she came in, then meandered around the parking lot and hung out on the hospital property. The massive beast was reportedly seen near the parking structure on the Anchorage campus late Monday.

“It was a pretty calm visit,” Lastufka told The AP

Here is the video Hupton shot of the visitor.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Image: This Jan. 7, 2019, photo provided by Anchorage Regional Hospital shows a moose that had wandered into its therapy facility in Anchorage, Alaska, through doors that were stuck open because of extreme cold temperatures. The moose chomped on some plants in the lobby and stuck around for about 10 minutes before leaving the building. (Alaska Regional Hospital via AP)