Moose spotted on Mount Rainier for first time

Officials at Mount Rainier National Park say they've recorded the first ever moose sighting in the park.

They also said, via social media this week, that this is the first moose sighting in southwest Washington.

Moose can typically be found in northeastern Washington, but to see a moose this far south is rare. Mount Rainier National Park says that, as of 2015, there were approximately 5,000 moose in Washington state, with most of them living in Eastern Washington.

While moose are not native to the park, it is possible that this individual may have migrated in search of greener pastures.

"Moose are a species that are fairly sensitive to extreme heat," says Kyle Garrison with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "They're very well cold-adapted. So, it might be that it's motivated to move due to a changing climate.”

Wildlife experts think it may be the same moose that was seen using a wildlife under-crossing along I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass over the summer; however, no one knows for sure if this is the same moose.

By the way, Garrison notes the plural of moose is not "meese" or "mooses." It’s simply moose.