FWP law enforcement and wildlife staff darted and anesthetized a young bull moose in Red Lodge on Friday, after the animal’s antlers became entangled in an electrical extension cord earlier in the week. The decision to act was made after the entangled cord began impacting the animal’s ability to move freely.
After darting, the drugs took effect, and the bull was quickly immobilized. Staff was then able to untangle and remove the extension cord, and an ear tag was attached to the moose. After drugs to reverse the immobilization chemicals were administered, the bull was allowed to recover in the shade and soon left the area under his own power.
Since the immobilization drugs make an animal unsafe for human consumption for an extended time, an ear tag is placed on the animal, which is standard protocol after any animal is anesthetized by FWP. The tag provides an individual number and asks anyone harvesting that animal to contact FWP before consuming.
There are a small number of hunters who have a permit to hunt moose in the vicinity where this bull was located, and FWP has contacted those hunters and advised them of this work and the presence of a tagged moose.
Source: Montana FWP Region 5 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1409907207805190&set=a.518055806990339
