Bull moose shot by police in Alaska
Sunday, October 18, 2009
- 23 December 2010: Alaska Supreme Court rules in Senate election challenge
- 10 August 2010: Former US Senator Ted Stevens among five killed in Alaska plane crash
- 2 August 2010: Cargo plane crashes in Alaska's Denali Park, sparks wildfire
- 30 July 2010: Medical helicopter crashes in Tucson, Arizona, kills all on board
- 30 July 2010: C-17 crashes near air force base in Alaska
Image: US Government.
University of Alaska Anchorage campus police shot a bull moose on Thursday after it became entangled within fencing material.
The animal was reportedly in an "agitated state" when it got its antlers stuck in a fence used to support young trees. Attempting to free itself, the moose struggled as it began moving towards the campus's Fine Arts Building. Police blocked off the area and alerted the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before they shot the bull as it became an "imminent threat".
Police chief Dale Pittman said that the preferred method of taking down the animal was with tranquilizers, but the university's police are not trained to use such drugs.
Pittman said, "In order to keep our community safe, UAA Police made the decision to put the animal down rather than risk injuries or human death as a result of a moose-human encounter". He added, "We do not like having to use deadly force, even on animals".
[edit] Sources
- James Halpin. "'Agitated' bull moose shot at UAA campus" — The Anchorage Daily News, October 16, 2009
- "Moose becomes agitated, is shot by police" — United Press International, Inc, October 17, 2009
