Moose killed by vehicle in Oneida County

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Moose killed by vehicle in Oneida County

By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel

July 14, 2009 

A bull moose, the largest member of the deer family and relatively rare in Wisconsin, was struck by a vehicle July 3 near Rhinelander and later euthanized.

The moose, estimated at 3 years old, had become a popular sight near Monico in Oneida County, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

It was hit by a car about 10:30 p.m. on Highway 8 east of Rhinelander. The driver sustained minor injuries but the car was heavily damaged. DNR officials found someone to purchase the moose carcass and utilize the meat.

Moose are common in northern Minnesota, parts of the extreme northeastern U.S. and much of Canada. But their numbers are limited in Wisconsin primarily due to brainworm, a parasite that is carried by white-tailed deer. The parasite is harmless to deer but typically fatal to moose.

Still a handful of moose drift down from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan each year into northern Wisconsin, affording notable wildlife sightings. According to DNR records, 55 moose sightings were reported in Wisconsin in 2008, up from 32 in 2007. Multiple sightings are recorded for the same animal.

The department said at least one cow moose with a calf was detected in 2008, as well as 2 bulls in northwestern and 5 bulls in northeastern Wisconsin.

The photo below shows the young bull that frequented Oneida County and was recently killed near Rhinelander.

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Here's another story about the Monico Moose. Damn, the car that hit it was a little Chevy Cavalier.

Rare Moose Killed in Traffic Accident in Oneida County

Story By: Bridget Fargen http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20090706165410

submitted: 07/06/2009

MONICO - A moose is a rare animal to see here in Northern Wisconsin. But Friday night a Bull Moose known as the "Monico Moose" was killed in a car accident.

Jim Jung, a Conservation Warden with the Department of Natural Resources, says he got a call around 11:00 pm from the Oneida County Sheriff's Department.

Jung says a Chevy Cavalier traveling on Highway 8 hit a Bull Moose near the intersection of Highway 8 and Old Highway 8.

He says the 600 pound moose was still alive after the accident, but had to be put down by an Oneida County Sheriff's deputy because of its injuries.

Jung says it was a sad ending for the two-and a half year old bull.

He tells Newswatch 12, "This is actually the first time I was up close and personable with animal like that, so it was interesting, but kind of sad it had happened."

Ron Eckstein a Wildlife Biologist with the DNR says moose in Northern Wisconsin are pretty rare.
He says there's probably two or three in our area.

Eckstein says the "Monico Moose" was first spotted in 2007 in the Pelican Lake area and then spent most of its time in the Monico area in 2008 and 2009.

He says, "People there are certainly sorely going to miss it, because it was seen pretty regularly hanging out near the highway--very tame, lots of pictures taken."

Jung and Eckstein say a local person bought the animal for its meat. A practice they say is frequently done by the DNR for protected animals.