Charging moose brings down hovering helicopter

[undatc]

Had to post this one....

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A helicopter is not necessarily a match for an angry moose.

Instead of slowing down after being shot with a tranquilizer dart, a moose charged a hovering helicopter used by a wildlife biologist, damaging the aircraft's tail rotor and forcing it to the ground.

Neither the pilot nor the biologist was injured, but the moose was maimed by the spinning rotor and had to be euthanized, wildlife officials said.

"It just had to be one of those quirky circumstance. Even dealing with bears and goats and moose and wolves, this is pretty unusual and truly a very unique situation," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation.

Biologist Kevin White was aboard the chartered helicopter on Saturday for a study of moose near Gustavus, a community of 459 people about 50 miles northwest of Juneau in southeast Alaska. Moose outnumber humans there 2-to-1, White has written in an essay for the Department of Fish and Game Web site.

He shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart, Larsen said, and the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to keep the animal from slipping into a tight space or collapsing in water and drowning.

"The moose would start to move, and then the helicopter would back off and try to keep the moose out in the open," Larsen said.

But instead of moving toward open space, the moose charged the helicopter.

"As the animal got closer and closer to going down, an animal sort of loses its thinking -- its ability to rationalize what's in its best interest," Larsen said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/05/moose.v.helo.ap/index.html

[spacer]

Gotta watch those guys. A moose tried to charge me once while I was driving an 18 wheeler. It was pretty surreal for me.

[Gulfstream Driver]

They'll take on trains, too.  they go a little nuts during the rut.   

[Baradium]

They'll take on trains, too.  they go a little nuts during the rut.   

I've been told that moose are more dangerous than bears due to their tendency to charge anything and everything if they are in the wrong mood.

[Turbomallard]

 A Møøse once bit my sister...

TM

[FlyboyGil]

Why do these FREAKIN" Biologists have to tag every wild animal? Why can't they leave them alone. They've got more than enough on them to know their habits and how man is affecting them. Now this poor moose had to be destroyed.

[Baradium]

Why do these FREAKIN" Biologists have to tag every wild animal? Why can't they leave them alone. They've got more than enough on them to know their habits and how man is affecting them. Now this poor moose had to be destroyed.

At least it probobly means some more food for the local food bank/ soup kitchen...

[Yuppie01]

Was Rocky with him?  He might have been trying to head for the coast to take a ride on the Ruby Yacht of Omar Khayyam. 

[Gulfstream Driver]

A Møøse once bit my sister...

TM

We apologize for the credits.  Those responsible have been sacked.

[Turbomallard]

A Møøse once bit my sister...

TM

We apologize for the credits.  Those responsible have been sacked.

Aha ! I was wondering if anyone would get that! Cheers!
 

TM

[Gulfstream Driver]

Woohoo!  I picked up on an obscure reference!

[FlyboyGil]

A Møøse once bit my sister...

TM

We apologize for the credits.  Those responsible have been sacked.

Those who are responsible for sacking the sackers have been sacked

[Baradium]

Stolen quote:

Best quote ever said by a wildlife official-
"Sooner or later Bullwinkle is going to stomp somebody."

(was in reference to ppl harrassing wild moose)

[FlyboyGil]

See how harmless moose can often be?

[Baradium]

See how harmless moose can often be?

¿Why the helicopter pilot didn´t keep a safer distance? Rifles shoot at a certain distance, you don´t neet to grab the nose to inject the poor beast...

DonYan: Safety is in the hans of the Pilot

They had already shot him with the tranquilizer.   They were using the helicopter to keep the moose from the water where it would drown.   The moose got mad at being kept from the water.