A moose sighted in the community of Almonte, Ont., about 40 km west of Ottawa, has been sedated and relocated by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Around 6:40 p.m. Friday, a motorist first notified Ontario Provincial Police in Lanark County of the moose.

The animal was seen in a field in the town’s far west end near Highway 29 but when officers arrived it had moved.

The next sighting was Saturday just after 8 a.m. when the moose was seen wandering in the backyard of some homes.

OPP officers were able to limit the moose to a small area and ensure the safety of nearby residents until the ministry arrived and tranquillized the animal around noon Saturday.

The ministry has relocated the animal to an unknown location and does not notify the public about the exact location to protect the animal.