Two moose lethally removed from I-15 in Pocatello

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – On the morning of Friday, October 23, Idaho Fish and Game responded to a report of two adult moose standing in the island of the I-15 and I-86 interchange in Pocatello. Both moose were lethally removed from the area.

Idaho Fish and Game stated they always move in the interest of public safety. The cow and bull moose were posing a threat to drivers in the area by lingering in the road space.

Moose can be seen in neighborhoods, school areas, shopping centers, golf courses and sometimes near or on local roadways. Fish and Game said sometimes the wildlife finds their way out of the urban areas on their own or are captured and relocated by officials.

The cow moose from yesterday's incident was already wearing an ear tag, meaning Fish and Game personel had already removed her from the Chubbuck area once before. When it comes to response decisions, the Fish and Game officials said it boils down to the location the wildlife is in and the risk they pose to public safety.

The triangle of island space between both interstates in Pocatello was an extremely dangerous spot for moose to encounter humans. Fish and Game said even if they had been left alone, the moose would've had to cross one of the roads and multiple lanes of traffic to escape the island space.

“Decisions like this one are not made lightly,” said Regional Conservation Officer Tim Klucken in a press release sent yesterday afternoon by Idaho Fish and Game. “None of us enjoy having to take these kinds of actions, but public safety comes first. As sad as it is to have to kill two moose, sadder still would be injuries or loss of human life if a motorist had collided with one of these animals.”

Fish and Game made the choice to euthanize the moose for public safety. When an animal is "darted" for immobilization, large game can quickly bolt significant distances away. With the location of the pair, it was a further risk to public safety if a darted moose ran into oncoming traffic.

Animals in urban areas have unfortunately caused several deaths in southeast Idaho this year. In September, the Pocatello community lost Dr. Mark Baker, a 66-year-old oral surgeon, after his car struck an elk standing on I-15 near the Utah/Idaho border.

Also in September, three vehicles collided with a moose on I-86 in Power County, injuring several people involved. Idaho Fish and Game serves to protect humans from wildlife in dangerous situations and therefore chose to lethally remove the two moose on Friday morning.

“Right now we have changing weather and breeding behaviors that are causing big game to move,” Klucken added. “Keep an eye out for wildlife near roadways, especially in the early morning and at night when animals are often more active and harder to see. Don’t hesitate to contact Fish and Game or other law enforcement if you see a dangerous situation like the one we had with these moose on the system interchange in Pocatello.”