Moose on the loose? Here's how to handle it

There was a moose on the loose near Wilson Creek for the past two weeks. After visiting several area farms over a several-day period, the critter found a suitable home at one ranch with fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and a stock tank filled with water.

"The fruit trees looked like someone had taken a brush hog and turned it upside down and trimmed the branches as high as a person could reach," Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Captain Chris Anderson said. "The farmer said the moose would drink 20 gallons of water at a time."

Two weeks ago this column discussed various animals that inhabit the Columbia Basin from time to time, if not permanently, but I didn't go into moose. I considered these critters too rare to mention, however there seems to be more of them around or passing through than I thought.

This moose was living a plush life, as far as these animals go, but it is not safe for the animal or humans to have a moose hanging around.

"Removing the animal was important, as we were concerned about public safety," Anderson said. "Moose are not afraid of people and with the farmers trying to haze or shoo the animal away, we were afraid someone might get trampled."

Although placing a lasso around the neck of this moose was possible, it's the resulting wrestling match wouldn't have been pretty.

"To control large animals, a licensed vet administers the drug Carfentanyl by use of a dart gun," Anderson said. "(Department of Fish and Wildlife) Vet Dr. Kresten Mansfield drove down from Spokane on Monday and we assembled a crew to do the job."

The animal went down about 10 minutes after the dart hit. Then a team of Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel went into action.

"First hobbles were placed on its front feet and on the back feet as well, and the two sets of hopples are hooked together to keep the animal from kicking," Anderson said. "While the vet took a blood sample, a wildlife biologist looked at the teeth and determined it was 2 years old, an ear tag was attached, a hood was put on its head and an antibiotic was administered."

The animal was rolled onto a tarp with six hand holes. With the animal estimated to weigh 800 pounds, it was impossible to pick up, so the six people dragged the tarp to and into a horse trailer. A drug to counter the Carfentanyl was dispensed and the moose was soon awake and on its feet.

"We drove to the Chelan area and set the moose free, far from civilization," Anderson said.

Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel figure the moose either came from the Spokane County area or perhaps from the Colbille Indian reservation after swimming the Columbia River.

"Since I've been here, nine years, I've dealt with eight moose," Anderson said. "They aren't common around here, but looking back, we deal with an average of about one a year."

If a moose is encountered, leave it alone. Don't approach the animal. If sighted in the Columbia Basin, report it to the Ephrata Department of Fish and Wildlife office at 509-754-4624.