Newtown Drivers Use Caution: Moose are on the Loose!

A 7-year-old Granby girl getting ready to celebrate her birthday had an unexpected visitor on Saturday. An 8-foot moose was spotted roaming in her driveway as her family was getting ready to go to her party.

“It was 8:30 a.m. and we were all getting ready to leave for the day,” Tony Mathews told Patch.

“My daughter Sandy wanted to go outside and when she opened the door from the house into the garage, the moose was standing at the garage door. My daughter ran back into house and yelled, ’Mom, dad, there’s a deer by the back of the van!’”

The girl’s parents ran to the window and both yelled, “That’s a moose!”

Grabbing his camera, Tony followed the moose up the driveway to Silver Street in North Granby. “Timing is everything,” Tony said. As the moose walked onto the street, Tony made a noise and the moose turned to him, allowing him to capture the incredible shot pictured.

“It was my daughter’s birthday on Saturday, one we will never forget!”

The Connecticut Department of Environment Protection warned motorists Wednesday motorists to watch out for “increased deer and moose activity, especially during early morning and evening hours.” The CT DEEP said in a release that September through October is peak breeding season for the expanding moose population in the northern part of the state. The breeding season for white-tailed deer runs from late October through late December.

The DEEP warned drivers to slow down because moose are darker in color and stand higher than deer, making their eye reflection difficult for motorists to see in their headlights. All moose and deer vehicle collisions should be reported to local, state, or DEEP Environmental Conservation Police officers at 860-424-3333.

Residents throughout the state are encouraged to report moose sightings on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife.

Photo: Tony Mathews

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