When is it time to manage the people, rather than attempting to move wildlife? Perhaps just long enough to provide a safe exit for a cow moose and her two calves travelling along the river valley? I’ve skied, biked and dog-walked by this cow and her calves over the past year and she’s been very tolerant. I wish we could have reciprocated.
Firing a rifle adjacent to St. Albert Trail, the bike path, and the apartment complex sounds more risky to me than slowing traffic and diverting foot traffic. The cow charged because she was agitated. Why did she have to be agitated? So I could get to work five minutes earlier without being slowed on the road or so my neighbour wasn't diverted off her morning commute along the bike trail? What was the real risk here to the public? Being late for work, encountering a moose in our river valley, or a rifle being shot and a moose terminated?
St. Albert continues to develop the river valley including large apartment complexes, subdivisions, and businesses within the riparian corridor. Bridges along the Sturgeon River have not been built to include sufficient green space corridors for ungulate movements between the natural areas at either end of our city. Edmonton’s river valley ecosystem is recognized internationally as “North America’s largest urban green space.” This is a selling feature that brings economic, social, environmental, and health benefits to the city. Will future generations look back and wish St. Albert had done more to protect our river valley, and to maintain its integrity as a wildlife sanctuary and corridor?
Heading off for my evening bike ride, sadly with no anticipation of seeing a moose.
Laurie Hunt, St. Albert
