Young moose spotted on Casino Rama property relocated after concerns mount

A moose on the loose near Casino Rama in Orillia has gained quite a bit of attention.

A young bull moose that wandered onto the Casino Rama property was safely removed and relocated on Tuesday after a coordinated effort. The moose appeared to be in distress, with initial reports suggesting it may have suffered leg injury, prompting the authorities to intervene.

Dr. Sherri Cox, with the National Wildlife Centre, along with the Ministry of Natural Resources, casino security and police assisted the animal on-site following sightings reported on Monday.

Police stayed on watch overnight to ensure the animal’s safety.

“The moose actually cooperated,” said Rama police Const. Carl Orr. “It stayed in one spot. It started at 12:30 yesterday,and concluded at 11:30 a.m. today, so it was actually, almost 24 hours of caring for a moose.”

While the moose was wandering the property, casino staff had to take alternate routes into work as security teams set up barriers to keep the animal from being disturbed.

“Once it got to the parking lot, we realized the leg was injured, and it was very unusual for a moose to be this close to such a high-human population,” said Orr.

On Tuesday, after officials assessed the situation, the animal was sedated to allow for closer examination. Officials loaded it onto a sled to be escorted away for special care.

“The moose had no visible injuries or concerns, but will be on its way to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary to be looked over and accessed by their veterinarian team,” Rama Police Services noted in a social media post on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s just nice to be part of something where we had a positive ending, and usually, in these situations, animals are destroyed because of the proximity to a human population,” Orr added. “This was a real positive, positive situation for everyone.”

Despite what is thought to be a happy outcome, Dr. Cox told CTV News late Tuesday afternoon the moose isn’t out of the woods just yet, noting the animal was awake at the rehabilitation facility but “quite thin.”

“We will see how he does over time,” she stated. “Fingers crossed he will be okay.”

The Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization in Rosseau that rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife in hopes of releasing them back into the wild.

Rama police reminded the public of the importance of respecting wildlife and following safety precautions when encountering animals. “Always observe wildlife from a safe distance. Approaching animals can be dangerous for both you and them,” the service stated.

Police advise residents to contact local wildlife authorities to report any sightings of distressed wildlife.