From my morning paper today (this happened a town over from where we live.)
Moose tranquilized in Erie
Animal likely companion or sister of Broomfield moose
By Vanessa Miller | Posted: 08/26/2009 12:38:29 PM MDTWildlife officers, with the help of Erie police and town officials, tranquilized a moose Wednesday after it was seen roaming near County Line Road 1 and Erie Parkway.
Residents spotted the female moose early in historic downtown and later near Coal Creek open space. They called police, and Colorado Division of Wildlife officials found the roughly 1-year-old moose before noon.
She retreated to Coal Creek, east of a trail between Erie Commons and Grandview neighborhoods, according to Town of Erie spokesman Fred Diehl. The Erie Department of Public Works used a backhoe to clear a section of the native grasses and shrubs so crews could get to the moose and shoot her with a tranquilizer, Diehl said.
Wildlife officers and town officials placed the moose in a stretcher and lifted her onto a large bucket attached to the backhoe to move her away from the creek, Diehl said.
The moose was then transported to a trailer and taken away, he said.
Officers will relocate the 500-pound moose to the high country, west of the Indian Peaks mountains, said Division of Wildlife spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill.
"Everything went really well," she said. "She's in good shape now." Wednesday's moose is believed to be one of two moose spotted several weeks ago near Niwot, Churchill said. One of those moose made her way to Broomfield, where she was tranquilized and relocated after drawing a crowd of onlookers. Churchill said the moose in Erie likely was her companion or sister.
"They seemed to be together and then separated," she said.
The division decided to tranquilize and relocate the moose on Wednesday "based on our experience with her sister," who ended up getting too close to people, Churchill said.
"We wanted to move her now and get her out, rather than end up with a situation where she's a danger to herself or people," Churchill said.
