I still remember the afternoon call that pulled me from a provincial budget committee meeting. “There’s been a moose attack in Edmonton,” my editor said, the kind of phrase that sounds almost comical until you grasp the severity.
As Alberta grapples with increasing wildlife encounters in urban settings, 73-year-old Margaret Poulson’s brush with death in her own backyard last week reminds us how quickly these interactions can turn dangerous.
“I was just hanging laundry,” Poulson told me from her hospital bed at the University of Alberta Hospital, her voice steady despite the bandages covering her shoulders and arms. “Next thing I know, this massive shadow appears, and before I could even think to move, I was on the ground.”
The retired schoolteacher had inadvertently startled a female moose that had wandered into her Riverbend neighborhood yard with a calf in tow – a scenario wildlife officials describe as particularly hazardous.
“Moose with calves are among the most defensive large mammals we encounter,” explains Robin Steward, wildlife conflict specialist with Alberta Environment and Parks. “They perceive anything nearby as a potential predator, and their response is immediate and powerful.”
Poulson’s encounter could have ended tragically if not for her neighbor, retired paramedic Kevin Malhotra, who heard her screams and intervened by creating noise from a safe distance, eventually causing the moose to retreat.
“The way she was protecting that calf, stomping and charging – I’ve never seen anything like it,” Malhotra recounted. “Margaret was curled up trying to protect herself, but those hooves can deliver hundreds of pounds of force.”
Edmonton has seen a 37% increase in reported urban wildlife encounters over the past three years, according to municipal data. The expanding city boundaries push further into traditional wildlife corridors, creating what ecologists call “conflict zones” where human and animal territories overlap.
City councilor Jasmine Wong has pushed for better public awareness following the incident. “Many residents don’t realize that a moose can weigh up to 700 kilograms and stand two meters tall. They’re not just big deer – they’re potentially dangerous wild animals that deserve distance and respect.”
What makes Poulson’s case particularly noteworthy is the location. While moose sightings occur regularly in Edmonton’s river valley and peripheral neighborhoods, this encounter happened in an established residential area nearly two kilometers from the nearest significant green space.
Wildlife camera data from the North Saskatchewan River valley shows moose populations have remained relatively stable, but their movement patterns are changing. Dr. Caroline Jenkins from the University of Alberta’s wildlife ecology program points to several factors.
“We’re seeing more urban wildlife corridors developing as cities expand. Add in this spring’s unusual temperature fluctuations affecting plant growth cycles, and animals are ranging further to find food,” Jenkins noted. “Climate variables are reshaping traditional migration patterns.”
Poulson, who suffered three broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and extensive bruising, acknowledges she was fortunate. “The doctor told me if I’d been stomped directly on my head or chest, we might be having a very different conversation.”
Her experience has sparked renewed calls for the city to improve its wildlife management approach. The Edmonton Wildlife Management Task Force, formed last year after a separate coyote incident, is now expanding its mandate to address larger mammals.
“The challenge is balancing public safety with animal welfare,” explains task force member and conservation biologist Naomi Williams. “Relocating large animals isn’t always successful and can create new problems. Education about safe behaviors remains our most effective tool.”
For residents in areas where wildlife encounters are possible, officials recommend simple precautions: scan your surroundings before entering yards, make noise when moving outdoors, and keep garbage secured. Most importantly, maintain significant distance from any wild animal, especially those with young.
Poulson, expected to make a full recovery despite weeks of rehabilitation ahead, maintains a surprisingly philosophical outlook. “This was my backyard for 31 years, but it was their territory long before that. I don’t blame the moose – she was just being a mother.”
As urban Edmonton continues expanding into previously wild spaces, Poulson’s experience serves as a stark reminder that coexistence requires awareness, respect, and sometimes, a healthy dose of caution.
“I’ll still hang my laundry outside,” she told me with a soft laugh as our interview concluded. “But you can bet I’ll be looking over my shoulder every few seconds from now on.”
