2 days ago
PHOTOS: DNR captures moose wandering through Heber neighborhood
HEBER, Utah (ABC4) — Dept. of Natural Resources personnel captured a moose that was wandering through a local neighborhood Friday morning, according to the Heber City Police Dept.
At around 6:45 a.m., the 'moose on the loose' was reportedly wandering in the area of 500 North and 100 West. It was of juvenile age, police said.
'The young moose explored the area for about an hour and fifteen minutes, likely a little lost and curious,' Heber police stated on social media. 'Officers worked closely with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DNR) to monitor the animal and ensure public safety.'
DNR was able to safely capture and relocate the moose to a better habitat.
Courtesy of Heber City Police Dept.
Utah's growing population has increased the number of wildlife encounters across the state in recent years, according to the Division of Wildlife Resources. While these encounters happen most often during the summer when people are hiking or camping in the mountains or canyons, they can also be common in cities and other urban areas.
'Getting too close to a wild animal can cause the animal to feel threatened,' DWR Big Game Coordinator Dax Mangus said. 'If it feels threatened, it will sometimes act aggressively to protect itself, which can be unsafe for you or your pets. However, these encounters can also be harmful for the animal. Because it's harder for some wildlife to find food in the winter, they need to conserve their energy in order to survive. While a one-off encounter may not be fatal, repeatedly disturbing or chasing species such as moose and deer cause them to use up some of the essential fat reserves and energy they need to survive the winter.'
Additionally, a vital way to prevent a wildlife incident from occurring is to make sure to never feed them, according to the DWR. Here are the reasons it is highly discouraged:
Public safety concerns (including drawing those animals to residential neighborhoods and roadways)
The spread of chronic wasting disease among deer, elk, and moose
Potential harm to the wildlife from introducing foods not in their diets, particularly during winter months
Moose, in particular, are commonly found in the foothills — their natural habitat. If a moose wanders into into populated areas, you should report it, the DWR said. If moose aren't relocated, they can stay in an area for a long time and potentially injure someone or damage property.
'Urban environments, which include fences and vehicles, can be unsafe for moose. Avoid approaching moose or attempting to 'herd' them out of yards or roads,' the DWR said. 'Moose can be very aggressive, especially around dogs. Learn other ways to prevent conflicts with moose on the Wild Aware Utah website.'
For more information on how to handle an encounter with wildlife, visit the DWR website here.
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