Police: Public to blame for moose death

wluctv6 ^ | October 07, 2008 | staff reporter

[Daffynition]

ISHPEMING -- The public is to blame for the death of a cow moose in Ishpeming. That's what Ishpeming Police Chief Jim Bjorne is saying.

An officer for the Department of Natural Resources, on Bjorne's orders, shot the moose late Monday afternoon.

It all started around 8:30 Monday morning, when the moose was spotted around 600 Vine Street in the City of Ishpeming.

Watch TV6 video that was taken around 10 am.

Bjorne says the public's interference, in their efforts to see the moose and get pictures, prevented the police and DNR biologists from getting the cow moose and her two calves to a safe area.

He says, after more than five hours of being herded around and trying to avoid people, the cow was overly stressed.

Bjorne says tranquilizing the animal would have caused more stress, and probably would have resulted in the animal's death, anyway.

The decision to put down the mother moose was made after she was approaching officers on the Heritage Trail by the old Brownstone.

The moose calves have left the area, and a DNR biologist says without a mother, their chances of surviving have been lessened, but they likely had already been weaned off of their mother.

The shooting of the cow moose has outraged many residents in the Upper Peninsula, who look upon the moose with awe and affection. Hundreds have posted comments on the TV6 website in the last 24 hours objecting to the shooting.

Check back often to TV6, Upper Michigan's Source for the very latest.

[Daffynition]

But this moose *was* my sister..........

[Old Sarge]

Sarah is not guilty - besides, she was in Florida...

[50cal Smokepole]

Was there government cheese involved? Yooz gotta watch out for dem yoopers, yah der heh....

[Dixie Yooper]

Bjorne says tranquilizing the animal would have caused more stress, and probably would have resulted in the animal's death, anyway. The decision to put down the mother moose was made after she was approaching officers on the Heritage Trail by the old Brownstone

This is the worst case of "Buck Fever" I have ever heard about. The DNR officers(Woodscrews)who made this decision should be hospitalized until after deer season is over. I'm sure all the hunters in the U.P. would really appreciate that.

[50cal Smokepole]

Up Nort PING, der heh.....

[JRios1968]

Have there been any reports of møøse bytes? Mynd you, they can be nasti!

[Netizen]

What, they never heard of blocking off an area? They never heard of telling people to disperse. Sounds like CYA to me.

[Daffynition]

LOL ... that’s why this turned into a disaster ... the government was involved.

[50cal Smokepole]

Sounds like “pass the BBQ sauce” to me.
OK. I’ll stop. Sorry.

[Paul Heinzman]

Sarah is not guilty

She's SO not guilty. It must be driving the MSM crazy that they cannot get an unflattering image of her.

[Dixie Yooper]

That was a great idea, reintroducing moose and wolves back into the U.P. in the late 1970’s.(sarc. off) The woods used to be a fairly safe place except for black bears.

[Daffynition]

'Round these parts we embrace them and capitalize on it. ;)

[Daffynition]

Just mention the name *Sarah* in front of a moose and see what happens ...

[Justice Department]

[Justice Department]

My moose Louie - unconditional love

[Justice Department]

[Justice Department]

Facing East

[Daffynition]

Ishpeming Police Chief Jim Bjorne ... once the word gets out ...

[mbj]

*chuckles*

[Justice Department]

Police Chief Jim Bjorne's not wearing his helmut