During a recent visit to Anchorage I was headed to the state Class 2A basketball tournament at Service High School. It was 8 a.m. on, March 18. I came to a stop near the entrance to Trailside Elementary to allow a large moose to decide which direction it would like to go. There were children being dropped off at school and high school students helping with parking at Service. I'm on the advisory board for the Alaska Moose Federation and the executive director, Gary Olson, has told me several times that the moose population in Anchorage is quite large and growing.

It was remarkable to witness this not only because it proves the point that there are obviously too many moose in Anchorage but this particular moose appeared very at home in this environment. I can't imagine parents being comfortable with moose "hanging out" near the playgrounds of local schools. What can be done about this? Alaska Moose Foundation is planning to help alleviate the problem in urban areas and to create healthy moose populations in rural Alaska. I encourage everyone to join us.

Dave Talerico / Healy