There's a moose on the loose in Northwest Alberta that has a lot of people talking. The unusual moose was caught on camera just a few days ago, and already it's picture is being spread around the world.
Maurice Chenard had seen plenty of moose before....but never one quite like this.
"This one was special. This was the first time I seen a moose two coloured like that."
It was a magical, miraculous moose caught on tape earlier this month near the community of Falher in northwest Alberta. The kind of moose you -- literally -- have to see to believe.
"So lots of people said oh good paint job maurice, you did a good paint job to that moose, but that's... nobody believe that."
The pictures are spreading like wildfire over the internet. you could call it, moose madness. People from across north america are poring over the pictures and asking, what's the cause?
"I'm sure he's not an old adult...he's a young adult, and i think he's male."
Bill Samuel has studied moose for more than 40 years with the University of Alberta. He's heard the speculation -- explanations ranging from an affliction of bugs called ticks, to even interspecies breeding. The real answer though he says is a rare genetic condition. He calls it a piebald moose and says it's extremely rare.
"this is just almost never heard of. Very few people will be able to say they've seen it."
The hope is that people will continue seeing it far into the future. There is worry, with its new notoriety, the spotted moose will be spotted by hunters.
"oh my god i hope nobody going to shoot that moose and like I said i'm going to try to talk to everybody around here to try to keep it alive you know?"
And with any luck, this unusual animal can give its admirers a wild moose chase for years to come.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012.