Moose seen in Niskayuna area
Drivers and others noticed animal on Friday morning
A Stockade resident, an offduty police officer, and drivers in Niskayuna saw a moose Friday morning, police said.
It appears the first sighting was reported in a 911 call that came in at about 7:10 a.m. By the time police got to the Stockade, there was no sign of the animal.
Around 9 a.m., an off-duty Schenectady officer spotted the animal on Aqueduct Road.
Niskayuna Police Chief Jordan Kochan said that around 8:30 a.m., the department received a few calls about a moose sighting from drivers traveling around Hillside and Providence
avenues. He said a search of the area came up empty.
Police then contacted the state Department of Environmental Conservation to alert them of the meandering moose.
“The goal is to obviously push it to a more safe area,” added Kochan. “It seemed like it was headed back toward the Schenectady area.”
Kochan said the department also posted general information on the home page of the town's web site urging people to keep a safe distance from the moose, avoid feeding wild animals, and keep trash cans secured.
It also includes the county dispatch center number (518) 630-0911 for people to call if they see the moose or have any concerns about it.
Moose are usually not dangerous, but they can be aggressive if harassed by humans, domesticated pets, or traffic, according to several websites.
Information online also indicates they can become temperamental when hungry or tired, especially in the winter when traveling in deep snow.