We’ve got healthy forest with regenerating undergrowth: check! We’ve got acres of wetlands and rivers nearby those forests over large, uninhabited areas: check! We are a stone’s throw from similar areas in neighboring states: check! The conditions have become right for a growing population of Alces Alces Americanus, or Eastern Moose, to take up residence in northwestern Connecticut and wander, on their long legs, to places as far away as New Britain and New Milford.
On Wednesday, November 13, at 7:00 PM the Canton Library will present a talk by Andrew M. LaBonte, Wildlife Biologist at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, about this magnificent and potentially dangerous animal. Using numerous photographs, he will describe the habits and life history of moose, including breeding behaviors, habitat and diet, and many more interesting facts. Their lack of predators in New England means that early mortality is caused by disease and interaction with humans—car collisions and public safety interventions such as the moose on New Britain streets and highways earlier this year.
As the DEEP website states, “Moose represent a dilemma for wildlife managers.” Their growing presence demonstrates we have appropriate habitat to allow moose to prosper, yet their propensity to travel long distances in search of food or mates puts them in conflict with our relatively dense human populations in the yards and roads of Connecticut communities. LaBonte will elaborate on the efforts to manage the moose and plan for their future in Connecticut, after which attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions.
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The program is free, although the library requests that patrons register by phone or email in order that they may set up seating. Canton Public Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue, Canton. For information, please email kbunn@cantonpubliclibrary.org, call (860) 693-5800 or visit www.cantonpubliclibrary.org.
