25 September 2013

Aggressive Moose Shot Near Middle-School

It's rutting season.
An aggressive bull moose was shot to death by Anchorage police Tuesday afternoon at Kincaid Park, near the scene of a middle school race featuring hundreds of kids.

About 400 students from four or five middle schools were participating in a cross-country race and hundreds more runners of all ages were arriving for the popular Tuesday Night Race Series when an Anchorage Police Department officer shot the moose.

APD spokesman Anita Shell said the bull was one of two males fighting over a cow in heat that was with a yearling calf.

The larger bull -- the one killed -- chased the smaller one away and then laid down, about 18 feet away from the race course where children were running.

"The officer said the noise apparently caused the big bull to become agitated and he got up from the ground and started charging the girls, coming within (six feet) of them before the officer fired three shots (slugs) with his shotgun," Shell wrote. "The moose was struck twice in the heart and died quickly."

It's sad, because the bull was doing what moose do, this time of year. I'm guessing the kids will have something to talk about, though!

14 comments:

Chickenmom said...

Glad no kids were hurt, but what do they do with all that meat? Does it go to a food bank? I hope it's not wasted - just curious.

Rev. Paul said...

It's donated to local food banks; APD and the State troopers do the same thing with moose killed on the roads, too.

Chickenmom said...

That's good news - Thanks! :0)

PioneerPreppy said...

I bet those kids were scared literally witless.

I know I would have been.

Anonymous said...

The classic example of moving into another neighborhood and exhibiting dominance.
People have been doing it for thousands of years, sometimes with animals, sometimes with other people.
It's sad for the moose community, but would have been more sad for the people if they abandoned the school to the moose.

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

Preppy, you're probably right - I'm sure some of them didn't sleep, Tuesday night. Others have seen moose before, and probably weren't really frightened until the three shotgun blasts.

gfa, agreed. Nearly all Alaskans know that we share our communities with the wildlife. Sometimes, though, humans' life-and-property concerns have to trump the wildlife's ability to stroll across our lawns. :)

Old NFO said...

Probably NOT a good idea to schedule a cross country race this time of year... Just sayin...

Rev. Paul said...

I suspect you're right, NFO, but common sense isn't so common, anymore.

Teresa said...

I suppose the same could be said about the deer population down south. They are doing what deer do during mating season... this means they will run across roads etc and generally end up meeting a really bad fate (along with cars and drivers) because of it. No matter what we do, unless we just stop living in a place, there will be conflict with local wildlife. Doesn't really matter if it's moose and bear or deer and raccoon. I'd prefer not to be the loser in such a situation.

As for track and field, I believe that is dictated by a nationwide type of system just like other sports. If Alaskan kids want to go on and compete from local, to state, to national... this is when it happens. It's not as arbitrary as it sounds. Of course you could just tell the kids in Alaska that it's too dangerous locally so they can't compete nationally or for scholarships to lower 48 schools or for Olympic spots. But that doesn't seem quite fair. ;)

Rev. Paul said...

Teresa, you're absolutely correct about track-and-field season coinciding everywhere. If moose were to enter the field every year, then they'd probably put up a fence. This was a moose who was unusual in his ardor.

Old NFO said...

True on the lack of common sense... sigh

Rev. Paul said...

NFO - sad, isn't it?

Knucklehead said...

That officer can sure handle a shotgun! Three slugs, two in the heart, before a charging bull moose could move the those last six feet to the children.

Rev. Paul said...

Knucklehead - that's quite true; I hadn't thought of that. :)