Moose clashes with snowcats

Hazing would precede "last resort" action of removal

By DAVID ERICKSON - Whitefish Pilot

An adult cow moose damaged machines operated by two separate groups of snowmobilers on Dec. 29 just below "Fiberglass Hill," in the Canyon Creek area northeast of Whitefish Mountain Resort.

In the first incident, a group of snowmobilers came across the cow in the groomed snowcat trail. The moose didn't want to get off the road and became aggressive.

"She kicked a snowmobile, and the hood (of the snowmobile) was stuck on the leg of the moose," Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson John Fraley said.

Shortly after the group left, two more snowmobilers came down the same trail. This time, the moose went around a tree and kicked one of their sleds, according to Fraley. The snowmobilers were apparently uninjured in the incidents.

"To have damaged property, this is definitely abnormal behavior," Fraley said. "There are lots of animal confrontations, but this type of behavior is not typical."

A groomer operator reported that a moose was challenging his machine in the same area on Dec. 27, Fraley said. There were reports of a cow with a calf in the area, Fraley said, but it is unclear if this pair was involved in the incidents.

After the snowmobile confrontations, FWP warden Chris Crane and Erik Wenum, a wildlife conflict specialist with FWP, went to the area to assess the situation. They were unable to locate the moose, but officials will be monitoring the situation, Fraley said.

"We have patrolled the area four times since the incidents in late December," Fraley said. "For example, on Jan. 4, our warden and wildlife conflict specialist noted a number of moose tracks and observed one young bull moose which showed no signs of aggression. We have not encountered an aggressive moose, nor have we had any further reports of an overly aggressive moose. We know that moose can be aggressive, but we are trying to determine if there is a reason this particular moose acted in what appeared to be an unusual manner. Based on our investigation, we believe this moose attacked the two snowmobiles without being provoked."

Fiberglass Hill is a popular spot for snowmobilers, Fraley said, and the area will remain open. He also explained that the moose would not be tranquilized and moved.

"Moose don't take well to tranquilizing," he said. "This area is also 12 miles from the trailhead, so it would be very difficult to move. We would only remove the moose if the FWP warden and conflict specialist noted unusually aggressive behavior when attempting to haze the moose off the trail, and believed that removal was the only way to ensure public safety. This is a popular recreation area used not only by snowmobilers, but also by skiers coming off the backside of Whitefish Mountain ski area."

Fraley said that because euthanization drugs ruin the flesh of the moose for human consumption, the moose would have to be shot in the worst-case scenario so the meat can be donated to the food bank.

"The moose would only be removed as a last resort," he said. "We're not going to do anything unless we see any more signs of aggressive behavior. As always, we are advising recreationists to give moose and other wildlife a wide berth. It is our responsibility to balance the conservation of wildlife and public safety."