In the last couple weeks we’ve seen a lot of helicopter rides for the moose around Ogden, Utah.
Nineteen moose that had been wandering into the city were moved to the Upper White River/Flat Tops area, according to the Daily Sentinel. There are moose there, but not a lot. They travelled by helicopter sling and livestock trailer to the North and South forks of the White River and along Marvine Creek.
Another 20 moved to Colorado, according to the Deseret News. Last year wildlife officials got 60 calls about moose around.
Instead of using drug darts, the helicopter crews shoot a net over the moose, handcuff their hooves, blindfold them to keep them calm, then get a dozen men to carry them to a trailer.
Colorado used to trade bighorn sheep for the moose; now they just pay for them. The Craig Daily Press quotes Colorado Wildlife officials saying there probably weren’t moose here originally; they just wanted them to attract tourists.
I don’t know if responding to complaints of just seeing moose is all that sound of a management plan. Or bringing in a new species for a tourist attraction. In fact, I’m pretty sure neither is. But I’m glad the moose are going somewhere that somebody isn’t going to call the cops just for seeing them. And I do think they’ll be something tourists want to see.
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