Posted on 03/05/2007 9:02:17 AM PST by AlaskaErik
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."
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Saw a bush airplane that had been dismantled by a bear to get at some moose parts inside.
We were in Denali this past fall. We were advised what to do if we saw a bear. And what to do if we saw a moose. And advised that if we had to choose between a bear and a moose, run toward the bear!
A helicopter once bit my sister's moose.
Brother landed a USCG helo on an Alaskan beach looking for some lost hunters. He and the crew came back 30 min later to find a bear peeling a section of the H-46 aluminum side off "like a sardine can"!
Bear: Cargo hatch? What is that? Opens easy enough right here on the fusilage.
*lol*
'Bout the way it was. He said the trip back was a bit drafty...
Not to MENTION that just about EVERY huntin' buddy I've got has a story about someone they know being treed by a moose....sometimes for HOURS.
Yeah, unless YOU can run 40MPH through heavy brush....don't PET them mooses...!!!
LOL
Amen JB, Amen!! :)
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