New Yorkers Be Vigilant, It's Moose Sighting Season

New Yorker's be on alert, it's moose season in our neck of the woods.

Moose Season 2024 in New York State

Fall begins on Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 and we're ready for the bugs to go away and the animals to come out and play.

The Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding New Yorkers that with fall on the way, there is a potential for moose sightings in the region. While Moose sightings are rare, they do happen.

In 2023, several moose were seen frolicking throughout the fall in the Hudson Valley with one stopping by a Hyde Park neighborhood in Dutchess County and another posing for a trail cam in Poughkeepsie.

Julia Truitt

Both sightings happened between the end of September and early October.

What To Do if You See a Moose

If you happen to run into a moose, as unbelievable as it may seem, you'll want to keep your distance.

The DEC explains saying "It's best to give them plenty of space and observe only from a safe distance or from shelter if it's available." They go on to call them secretive animals adding that moose can be "unpredictable and potentially dangerous."

After your moose encounter, the DEC asks that you fill out their Moose Sighting Report. Several wildlife research and environmental study groups in New York State, including the DEC, have been collecting data throughout the years for a "multi year research project." The data collected from the moose sightings l will be used to created a moose management plan in New York State.

Data they've collected throughout the year includes details about he moose population, health and the "factors and influences moose survival and reproductive rate."

Mapping Out Hudson Valley Moose Sightings

The Hudson Valley is no stranger to Moose sightings, as seen above. We tracked some of the moose sightings across the mid-Hudson region over the last few years.

Did your town have a moose sighting?

Mapping Out Moose Sightings Across The Hudson Valley

For the last year or so, we've been getting more and more moose sightings in and around the Hudson Valley. We've mapped out a few of the most recent sightings in our neighborhoods.

Speaking of Moose sightings in New York, have you ever caught a glimpse of a moose on a beach? It's what postcard dreams are made of and it happened in Upstate, New York a few years back. Check it out below:

Moose on Loose Strolls New York Beach

A moose was captured wandering Port Henry beach before heading back home to the forest where she belonged. An employee preparing to open the gates captured the majestic animal early one morning.

Gallery Credit: Credit - Polly McAdams

In 2022 a family in Danbury, Connecticut had an interesting run-in with a moose on their property:

Danbury Resident Has Astonishing Close Encounter With Famous Moose

His name is Daryl Pitman, and he's a Danbury resident who recently had a super-close encounter with a moose that has become famous in the Greater-Danbury area. In the past few days this moose has been seen in multiple Danbury locations, it's been seen in Newtown, New Fairfield, Woodbury and even Pawling, NY to name a few.

I saw Daryl's pictures in a different moose related thread and reached out to him. I asked him to tell me more. I wanted to know if these photos were real? Did he take the pictures? Was this in Danbury? When was this? How did he feel. An excited Daryl got back to me with the following responses.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

If you've had a Moose encounter in the Hudson Valley and Greater Danbury region, we would love to hear from you! Share your stories and photos to Jess@HudsonValleyCountry.com