Both lose when cow moose collides with helicopter

Anchorage Daily News ^ | March 5, 2007 | KATIE PESZNECKER

[11x62]

A routine flight to tag a cow moose took a bizarre turn this weekend when the tranquilized animal charged the tail section of a hovering helicopter, collided with the rear rotor and brought down the aircraft.

The injured animal was euthanized at the scene.

The incident happened near the southeast town of Gustavus late Saturday afternoon, and baffled officials with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

"I have never personally seen or heard of an injury of this type, caused to an animal by an aircraft," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation. "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."

[11x62]

Moose brings down chopper.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

My sister was not on board the chopper.

[CzarNicky]

there is a headline you don't see everyday.

[reagan_fanatic]

Did the Moose bite anyone's sister first?

[Red Badger]

WOW! CHOPPED MOOSE!...........

[Artemis Webb]

I would love to make a joke about this. It doesn't bother me at all that some people do. But moose are normally big and gentle. This is just a damn shame.

[VRWCmember]

A moose once bit my helicopter.

[Hatteras]

As God as my witness, I didn't know mooses could fly...

[OCCASparky]

Instant moose burgers! Fire up the BBQ!

[Joe 6-pack]

"Now for squirrel's turn."

[super7man]

I'm wondering if there was cheese on the helicopter.
I see a plot here. This is really series.

[day10]

Where's the rest of this moose?

[lonerepubinma]

Rapid glacial retreat cleared the way for moose migration from the Haines area to Gustavus in the mid-1960s.

I thought glacial retreat was a new problem ?

[petro45acp]

Moose bites can be very painful...


See yer cow moose and raise one manbearpig.

[Mr. Brightside]

Chopped liver?

[VRWCmember]

Moose bites can be very painful...

And helicopter bites can be pretti nasti.

[spotbust1]

I was thinking the same thing. Flying moose. Can you imagine getting hit by moose droppings? Not just something you can quickly wipe off you shoulder. Can they sit on telephone wires like birds? What do their nests look like? Just a few questions I have.

[thackney]

moose helicopter ping

[GreenLanternCorps]

You've heard of "Suicide by cop"? Now we have suicide by Fish and Game warden...

[Condor51]

*** But moose are normally big and gentle. ****

I've heard otherwise from a guy I used to work with that hunted Moose. If the first shot wasn't a kill - watch out and re-chamber QUICK.