Stressed moose tumbles off cliff after being darted by biologists, Idaho officials say
A stressed moose tumbled off a cliff and died after being darted by biologists in Idaho, wildlife officials said.
The moose was spotted Sept. 14 in Twin Falls after wandering out of Snake River Canyon, Idaho Fish and Game said in a news release.
It eventually made its way toward a Costco in the city, officials said. Authorities watched the “highly agitated” moose and tried to keep it from crossing streets and away from the Blue Lakes business district.
After the sun rose, biologists darted the moose with anesthetizing drugs.
This sent the animal running off down a walking path, despite efforts from biologists and police to “keep it contained until the anesthetizing drugs could take effect,” officials said.
A short video shows the moose stumbling toward the edge of a cliff before plunging off and dying.
“Often when we have a moose in an urban setting the stress level of the animal is very high as it tries to find a way out,” Regional Wildlife Manager in the Magic Valley Region, Mike McDonald, said in the news release.
Officials said the moose’s meat will not be processed because of the anesthetizing drugs it was given.
Twin Falls is about 130 miles southeast of Boise.
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