I have a friend in Germany who wanted me to send him pictures of animals from my time in Canada. Unthinking, I said yes.

My assumption was that he wanted to see Canadian wildlife: deer, bears, maybe a fox or two. And while all those can be found in Ottawa from time to time, sightings aren’t an everyday occurrence. After all, this is a city with a million people; animals tend to steer clear of humans.

In my neighbourhood I have seen squirrels and chipmunks, but nothing bigger – not even a raccoon or a skunk. Not that I would want to see a skunk (and campaigning politicians don’t count).

However, I spotted this moose when I was in the Byward Market area of the city. Should I send him the picture? Or keep onlooking for something else?