Moose on the loose keeps kids inside school

Oct. 26, 2022  |  By Lisa Scagliotti 

A moose visits the playground at Brookside Primary School on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Photo by Tom Thurston

Note: This story was updated to add comments from HUUSD superintendent.

There was some morning excitement at Brookside Primary School on Tuesday. 

A curious moose passing through town decided to check out the school yard and it didn’t take long for those inside to notice the visitor. 

Teacher Tom Thurston snapped a photo of what appears to be a young female moose along the playground.

“We followed our protocol to keep all students and adults inside the building,” said Co-Principal Sarah Schoolcraft. 

Although classes were instructed to stay indoors until the moose meandered off, students and staff took to the windows to see the visitor from a safe vantage point. The excitement happened before morning recess. Eventually, the moose headed off toward Stowe Street, Schoolcraft said. 

At Wednesday evening’s Harwood Unified Union School District School Board meeting, Superintendent Mike Leichliter reported that he received a call informing him that the playground at Brookside had to be evacuated “due to an intruder” which turned out to be the moose. He chalked the event up to “never a dull moment” so far in his new job.

Others in town may have caught a glimpse of the creature. Waterbury Roundabout got a report shortly after 9 a.m. of a sighting at Dac Rowe Park, but the moose managed to evade photographer Gordon Miller.

Moose are on the move in the fall seeking mates and feeding on tree branches, leaves and bark, low brush and other vegetation within their reach. The largest member of the deer family, moose are not apt to be aggressive but it’s wise to give them plenty of space as they go about their travels. 

This time of year sees a particular increase in incidents involving moose and motor vehicles and 

Interstate 89 between Bolton and Montpelier - with Waterbury in between - is a corridor popular for moose sightings and crossings. 

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department tracked reports of 49 moose hit by vehicles on Vermont roads in 2021. As of Sept. 8 this year, 21 moose had been involved in collisions. 

“We are asking drivers to be especially careful and for people to enjoy watching moose from a distance,” said State Game Warden Major Justin Stedman. “Moose can be unpredictable and dangerous if you get too close and they feel cornered or get irritated.”

Moose are more active at night and early morning, and can be difficult to see because of their dark color.