MOOSE ON THE LOOSE: Elk Enters Hospital Lobby To Get Some Morning Greens

An elk startled staff and patients at a hospital in the USA, after it entered the lobby and munched on the decorative plants.

The hungry animal reportedly stormed right into the lobby of Providence Alaska Medical Centre in the city of Anchorage, Alaska, USA, after it spotted the potted plants on Thursday, 7th April.

A video shows the moment the elk strolls through the front doors looking for some morning greens, leaving hospital employees and patients shocked by the unusual view.

Medical centre spokesperson Mikal Canfield said in an interview with Newsflash: "The initial reaction was surprise.

"Alaskans see moose in the community all of the time, but they rarely come inside of a building.

"Once people became aware of the moose, everyone moved away from it to give the moose some space.

"When the security team arrived, their focus was on ensuring the safety of everyone inside the lobby, including the moose.

"And of course everyone was taking pictures and videos."

Canfield suspected that the creature came inside to get to the plans, which he claimed that "unlike everything outside right now - are green and pretty inviting to a moose spending its days in snow".

He added: "Many people joked about the hospital salad bar receiving moose approval."

The Providence Alaska Medical Centre employee revealed that the automatic doors which the elk entered through, were propped open to help get the animal back outside.

He said: "Members of the security team created a wall around the moose by moving some of the lobby furniture.

"Thankfully, the moose became aware of the people and things around it and went back outside.

"Once security arrived, it took about 15 minutes to encourage the moose to leave the building."

Canfield said that the situation would have probably had a different turn of events if the elk had been an adult, and added: "The moose was young and more curious and confused than anything else.

"Adult moose tend to be more aggressive. Nobody was injured.

"To people who live in Alaska and see moose all the time, the whole incident was viewed with amusement and just another day in Alaska."