Bull Moose Wanders Into Minot Front Yard
Homeowners in North Dakota should keep pets and kids safe as moose expand into towns once far from their range.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Wildlife
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A large bull moose was filmed wandering through a front yard in Minot, North Dakota, before it ran off suddenly. The video was shot by Cassie Olson and shared courtesy of KX News, and it appeared days after a moose was reported loose in Bismarck.
Why it matters
Moose are showing up in more parts of North Dakota than they once did, which means homeowners in cities far from the traditional northeastern woods may now share their yards with large wildlife. The sighting also reflects a broader geographic shift in the state's moose population over the last two decades.
An average adult bull moose weighs between 800 and 1,600 pounds, and the animal in the Minot video appears to exceed 1,000 pounds. Williams County has the highest moose density in North Dakota, while Burke County leads the state in documented encounter reports.
The players
North Dakota Game and Fish
The state agency that tracks moose populations and sightings through tracking data and hunter survey points across North Dakota.
KX News
The Bismarck-area news outlet that provided the Minot moose video to the public.
Cassie Olson
The Minot resident who filmed the bull moose in her front yard.
The details
Moose sightings are tracked using North Dakota Game and Fish tracking data and hunters' survey points, which together help map where animals are concentrated. Historically the species was found mainly in the heavily wooded northeastern corner of the state, including the Pembina Gorge. Over the last two decades the population has shifted geographically, and Divide County has seen a surge in sightings over the last several years. The Minot animal was recorded on video by a resident who was present when it investigated the yard before running off.
Timeline
Over the last two decades, North Dakota's moose population has shifted geographically.
Over the last week, a moose was reported loose in Bismarck.
On November 4, 2026, the Minot moose video was published.
The Home Front
The Minot sighting fits a documented shift in North Dakota's moose population that Game and Fish tracking has charted over the last two decades. Moose that once stayed mainly in the northeastern woods are now appearing in towns and river bottoms across the state.
If you live near river bottoms or wooded edges in North Dakota, keep pets and small children supervised outdoors and avoid approaching large wildlife. Report sightings to North Dakota Game and Fish so the agency's tracking data stays current.
The takeaway
Large wildlife like moose can now turn up in residential yards far from their historic range, so it is worth knowing what animals are active near your home. Keep a safe distance and call local wildlife authorities if an animal seems disoriented.
Further reading
For more on animals sharing the landscape around your neighborhood, browse our Wildlife coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SuperTalk 1270.
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