Moose and Helicopter Collide in a Small Alaskan Town
The cow moose had been tranquilized with a dart by biologist Kevin White, but before it could take full effect, the moose came after the helicopter. The pilot of the chartered flight was using the helicopter to maneuver the moose into the open away from the possible danger of it's collapsing, slipping or drowning in the frigid water or the nearby estuary, before the tranquilizer knocked the moose out. In the animal's confusion and with the tranquilizer beginning to work, instead of turning away from the helicopter, it ran towards it. The pilot could not maneuver out of the tight spot the helicopter was in before the moose struck it in the tail rotor and the damage forced it to the ground.
The biologist was studying the moose in the area of Gustavus, where they outnumber the human residents of the town.
Gustavus is about 50 miles north of the city of Juneau, Alaska and is considered to be the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park which is located in southeast part of the state. There are about 500 residents but the warmer summer tourist season brings in thousands of visitors to the area. They have only one airport and the town is surrounded by mountains.
The wildlife population in the area includes not only moose, but also bears, wolves, whales, fish, and goats. Moose tend to be silent animals, but during the mating season they become more vocal and aggressive. They are the largest member of the deer family. The males range in weight from 1,200 to 1,600 pounds and the females from 800 to 1,200 pounds. Their height, when completely grown can be from 7 feet to over 10 feet tall. Only the male moose has antlers and a fully grown set of antlers can have a span of up to 6 feet and weigh as much as 85 pounds. A moose can live 16 years, less in captivity.
When the moose hit the twirling rotor, the end of it's nose was chopped off and it was beyond help. The biologist had to give the badly injured moose and a lethal injection and euthanize it. Neither the pilot or the biologist were injured and they walked away from the helicopter.
Published by Laurie Meekis
I am very pleased to have earned the top 1,000 content producers badge three years in a row on Associated Content. Many of my articles and writings here are available for reprint. For those and other writin... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentThere were moose just moving into Connecticut when I was there. For a while, folks were reporting a cow moose close to the highway about ten miles away from me. I was petrified of driving at night until she found her way into deeper woods!
I have another moose story I'm going to write about a friend of mine, as an interview. These animals are huge.Think about the size, up to ten FEET tall and the span of the antlers...wow. No wonder I have heard stories about the Ididerod racers having encounters with them in the wlderness. He was tracking the moose population up there but looks like human interference cost a beautiful free animal it's life. whether it was meant to happen or not.I'm sure being a recorder of animal behavior,I'm betting he felt pretty badly afterwards.
Why is it that the animals always loose when humans get involved? Do we know why this biologist was tranking the moose in the first place??? And why in such a dangerous area, that the moose might have drowned??? What a tragic story. Nice going guys...
That's terrible for that poor Moose. I've never seen one in real life but they look so beautiful and majestic on tv and in photos I've seen. My first thought was "instant karma" by the moose taking down the helicopter, until I read further and read what happened to the poor moose :(