[Vision2020] Strays draw crowds

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (July 18, 2013) Lewiston Tribune.

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Strays draw crowds
MOSCOW - Two yearling moose finally bedded down near a clump of pine trees around noon Wednesday in Ghormley Park, after spending the morning wandering near downtown Moscow.
Idaho Fish and Game officer Jon Horne said moose seem to find their way into Moscow about once a year. In this case, the two were just a little lost.
"They're two yearlings, so they're supposed to be on their own but this is the first time they've been away from mama," Horne said.
Horne was contacted about 8:30 Wednesday morning after the moose were spotted. The Moscow Police Department assisted Fish and Game with monitoring the animals and keeping the public at bay.
"Our biggest concern is having people around them," said Moscow Police Lt. Paul Kwiatkowski.
Various people who had seen the moose had called the police department in the past couple of days, and Kwiatkowski said officers were able to locate them Wednesday morning.
Kwiatkowski, along with animal control officer Bill Hickman, stood near the corner of Deakin Avenue and Sixth Street watching the animals just before the noon hour. They directed people to stay at a safe distance, which Horne said is about 50 yards.
"In general, moose are calm around people," he said. "They tolerate people really well. As long as nobody's chasing them or spooking them, they'll do their own thing."
If they are spooked, Horne said that could cause the animals to panic and run into the roadway - and risk being hit by a car.
The animals were near Moscow's Salvation Army on Jackson Street when Hickman was notified about them around 7 a.m. They later wandered into the park before moving toward Jackson Street at about 9:30 a.m. Hickman said officers were able to turn the moose around again, and that's when they bedded down.
People may want to see the moose and take pictures, but Kwiatkowski said police would prefer onlookers stay away from the animals.
"The biggest thing is they're wild - they're not domesticated pets," he said.
Horne planned to monitor the moose throughout the day until city activity died down, and then leave them alone for the night. His hope was that the animals would leave on their own and be gone by today.
"That's what we want them to do - whatever they did to get in here (Tuesday) night, we want them to reverse (Wednesday night)," Horne said.
If the moose are still in town today, Horne said, Fish and Game may re-evaluate the situation.
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One of the two moose found Wednesday near downtown Moscow strolls across the 400 block of Almon Street.

 
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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still 
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon
  
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