On June 3, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office notified Fish and Game about a moose that had been spotted within the city of Burley near the Pleasant View cemetery. Around 5 p.m. that day, Fish and Game conservation officers and wildlife staff responded to the area, and they were able to tranquilize the moose near the Maverick gas station on east Main Street.
In the early morning hours of June 4, another moose was reported in a similar location. Fish and Game staff responded along with Cassia County Deputies to the area just south of Pleasant View cemetery, and a second moose was darted around 10:30 a.m. and relocated from the area.
The two animals were of a similar age class and found in a similar location suggesting that they could be siblings or just good friends! They were released in a similar location and reunited in a less populated portion of Unit 55.
A moose simply being in city limits does not always mean that it needs to be relocated. Each instance is thoroughly evaluated to determine:
- most important, the feasibility of darting the critter safely
- the likelihood that the animal will find its way out of an urban environment
- what issues exist with it remaining where it is
- how far away suitable habit is from where the animal is located
- how much “trouble” the animal will get into between where it is and suitable habitat
The drugs used to tranquilize large animals can often pose a safety risk to the staff, the animal, and bystanders. Animals that are under the influence of a chemical agent, don’t drop on contact with the dart, and their behavior can be very erratic. Fish and Game personnel want to make sure that they don’t cause further problems for both the animal or the public by attempting to use chemical immobilization drugs