Moose encounter leads to traffic jam on Rt. 100

June 25, 2021  |  By Tulley Hescock | Community News Service 

Photo by Buddy Milligan.

A handsome young bull moose stepped out along Rt. 100 in Waterbury Center on Monday and brought passing traffic close to a standstill as motorists slowed down, some stopping for a glimpse and a photo. 

While the scene had the potential for a mishap, Vermont State Police reported that there were no fender-benders and the moose eventually retreated back into the woods. 

“We didn't want there to be an accident due to the moose or you know somebody not paying attention to the driving and swerving to another lane and causing a collision that way,” explained Trooper Casey Ross.

The encounter happened along a stretch of Rt. 100 that sits within a known wildlife corridor just south of the town line with Stowe. Signs signal to motorists to be alert for animals moving through the area and into the roadway. 

And although this episode ended without incident, wildlife experts caution the public to take in sightings of wild creatures at a safe distance. Those roadside signs are located in spots after state wildlife experts study wildlife movement patterns and they mark areas that have consistently had the most moose activity.

Mark Scott is director of wildlife at the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. He said moose can be up to 1,000 pounds and can be very unpredictable. “They're wild animals, so you need to respect the distance to them,” Scott said. 

Moose will usually run away from human encounters, but if they feel trapped they may run at people in their path, he explained. 

Moose that wander onto the roads during the spring and summer may be young bull moose who are trying to find a new home after leaving their mothers. In other cases, Scott said, ringworm disease can cause moose to roam into unfamiliar habitats. 

“When you see them in residential areas, unfortunately, most often they may have ringworm here in Vermont. They're not all there, they're not quite thinking, and they are not that coordinated or coherent,” Scott said. 

All of these factors contribute to the unpredictability of moose. Scott recommends that people keep their distance, even if taking pictures. 

Community News Service is a collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program.