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By KARE-TV
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- They are majestic and elusive, a kind of symbol of the northern wilderness. The bull moose roams the woods of northern Minnesota. But this week at least one member of the herd took a wrong turn - south.
Todd Kobberdahl saw the moose in all its glory Thursday morning, from his Minnetonka office building. The moose was in the parking lot. "It looked like a smaller young male. The rack wasn't very large. It's a big moose. They?ve got long legs so they sit up pretty high," says Kobberdahl. ?It?s kind of out of character. You don?t see a moose here in the Twin Cities too much.?
The moose jumped a barrier in the parking lot. DNR officials say the animal was first spotted Monday swimming in Lake Minnetonka. Now, it was crossing morning rush hour traffic on 494.
"They're big animals, dark probably hard to see especially at night time so definitely a hazard on the road," says Bryan Lueth with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
For at least two hours, police and DNR officials tracked the animal. A danger to drivers, authorities shot and killed him.
So how did an animal that usually keeps its distance from people end up among them?
"Perhaps it traveled at night or used river valleys or some sort of other habitat corridor to get here," says Lueth.
Folks at the DNR believe he was a member of the northeast moose herd. He likely traveled from Aitkin County or the Cloquet area. It was a very long trip to the Twin Cities.
"I think it's just the time of year when the young ones are dispersing, trying to find their place in the world and this one just kept going too far I guess," says Lueth.
The moose population in Minnesota is about 7,000 strong.
The moose found wandering in Minnetonka will be tested for disease. The meat is being donated to the second harvest food bank.
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 Created: 11/9/2006 7:29:04 PM Updated: 11/10/2006 6:42:17 PM Suggest News Tips & Story Leads Submit Video & Pictures |
First Coast News Staff
