Moose on move stopped near Lake Crystal

Oct. 12—LAKE CRYSTAL — A Nicollet couple's rare sighting of a large animal Sunday evening between Lake Crystal and Madelia elicited an identical response.

"When my wife and I spotted it, we said at the same time 'Is that a .... moose?,'" said Phil Radel, who was driving on Highway 60.

The young example of North America's tallest mammal was munching on ears of corn in a field near the Butternut turnoff.

"I pull over, off the road, and we watched him for a while," said Radel.

Lindsey Radel snapped photos of the moose that is probably on a mission to get back to the woodsy terrain of northern Minnesota.

The Radel's three children, ages 10, 9 and 7, would have preferred a closer encounter with the animal that didn't exhibit any aggression or agitation toward the fascinated family.

"They wanted to get out of the car and pet him," said Phil, who declined their request.

Moose have earned a reputation for temperaments that turn on a dime. The animal is equipped with antlers and hooves sharp enough to fend off bears and wolves. Their sense of smell is keen, but their eyesight is very poor. If startled, they are quick to charge at a perceived enemy.

The yearling buck was the first moose Phil, a seasoned hunter, had seen in the wild, let alone so close to home.

According to the results of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' 2023 aerial population survey in the spring, this year's population estimate of 3,290 moose marks a decade of Minnesota's moose population remaining relatively stable.

Monday morning the Radels reported their sighting to a Minnesota DNR hotline.

"The DNR knew about him. He had been seen near Truman a day or two earlier (than Sunday)," Phil said.

Several area residents have been reporting sightings of the moose on social media. There are lots of videos and photos and information about how Nebraska news media and DNR staff tracked the animal's movements until he crossed over into Minnesota near Northrup a few weeks ago.

He visited the Fairmont area before he arrived in Blue Earth County last week, said Todd Froberg, the DNR's big game coordinator.

A moratorium on hunting moose has been in place for several years, due to a decline in the animal's population. An increase in sightings may indicate the numbers are rising. Froberg said trail cams and cellphones with good cameras make reporting sightings easier for the public.

"Two moose were reported Wednesday by Beardsley," Froberg said.

It's hard to say why moose have been moving outside of their regular stomping grounds up North. Young males are often pushed out of their territory by a dominant bull. There is documentation that a deadly brain parasite will cause an infected moose to roam aimlessly.

"We don't know what the animal at Lake Crystal is doing here," said Dan Ruiter, the DNR's information officer for the state's southern region.

"We do know it is a rare treat," he said, then added moose are generally very shy creatures.

The animal in the local cornfield appears oblivious to humans. He's not caused any trouble, and motorists have been careful when catching a glimpse of his short antlers and long legs.

As a rule, the DNR does not relocate moose that wind up down south.

"Wildlife is meant to remain in the wild; we won't remove it unless there's an issue such as a direct threat to the public's safety," Ruiter said.

Capt. Paul Barta has heard only positive reports throughout the week from Blue Earth County Sheriff's Department staff about the moose.

"He's been the source of lots of local conversations," Barta said.

Lake Crystal Police Chief Colter Killion fielded calls Monday and Tuesday from area residents worried the moose would run out into traffic. He said the animal seemed content to stay away from the highway.

Killion is more concerned for the safety of some of the gawkers. They are paying more attention to the moose than to the fast-moving traffic on the highway. They put themselves in danger of being struck by a vehicle.

"It's a headache for me when people pull over on the shoulder; some even get out of their cars. Not all of the other motorists are moving over to another lane."

The moose is not this month's only unusual sighting of an animal on the move. Early Wednesday morning, surveillance footage reportedly captured a cougar on camera in upper North Mankato, according to the city's police department.