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Loose moose creates morning madness
Published Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Photo by Lauren Radomski
Jon Drews outlines a moose track in his yard north of Opperman Lake early Wednesday.
Jon Drews is accustomed to wildlife sightings on the roughly five acres he owns north of Opperman Lake.
He’s seen as many as four deer a day, over one hundred wood ducks and even a cougar, he says, but Wednesday’s visit from a moose was a first.
Drews was letting his golden retriever, Nikita, out at around 7:30 a.m. when he spotted the animal about 40 yards from his home.
“He was just walking into the yard when Nikita barked at him,” Drews said from his yard this morning. “I stepped out and this moose was right here.”
The moose stayed in Drews’ yard for less than a minute, he said, before heading west.
Drews’ sighting was one of several early Wednesday as a wandering moose brought out at least half a dozen fire trucks and Fergus Falls police officers to the north end of town.
Fergus Falls police first received a report of the moose at about 6:30 a.m. from a man along Hillside Ave., said Sgt. Mike Conrad. By the time Conrad arrived in the area, the moose had traveled south toward Cleveland Elementary.
“It was standing right on the Cleveland hill above the soccer field,” he said, estimating the bull at 3-years-old with a 24-inch rack. The moose then headed back north through residents’ yards toward Opperman Lake and probably swam across to reach Drews’ property, police said.
The moose headed west, reaching the cemetery behind the Regional Treatment Center before continuing north out of town.
The moose presented a public safety issue, Conrad said, since passersby may have tried to approach the animal.
“Our thought was to get him far enough away that people couldn’t see him from a road,” Conrad said.
Back in Woodland Heights, Drews joked about the sighting’s affect on his plans for his property.
“Our house is for sale right now, but if we’re going to be having moose here, we may have to keep it,” he said. “We’re turning into a regular game refuge.”
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by cascade (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Watch out- those moose can be dangerous during rut....
Posted by Lala (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank goodness no kids were outside when it was by Cleveland school! I'm sure it will give the kids some stories to tell their parents! haha!
Posted by lostebayer (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and NOBODY could get a photo in this day & age of cell phone cameras??? Lame.
Posted by upeoplernuts (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe a photo of what the moose "might" have looked like?
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lol @ upeoplernuts.
Posted by eripsni (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
firetrucks for a moose???
Posted by lostebayer (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
an "artist rendering" perhaps?????
Posted by Granny (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
More trucks for the moose than a fire.
Posted by currentresident (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we should all get together at the state hospital and have some Krumkake and Koffee and just enjoy Fergus Falls for the beautiful city that it is. We are known all over the world for our enviroment. So beautiful.
Posted by Joe (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why all the fire trucks? It is a little known fact that moose have been known to spontaneously burst into flame if suddenly stressed or startled. A person should never approach a nervous moose without a pumper truck, ladder, and appropriately sized, flame-retardant, black/red plaid union suit at the ready. (P.S. – The union suit is to fit the fire-fighting professionals, not the moose.)
Posted by alwayshere (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is all the Banter about Skip? The article was about a moose....or cant you read???
Posted by alwayshere (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 10:22 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by buzzman55 (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad the cops didn't have a clear shot. The VFW could have had one hell of a food moose fed for the public.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 6:50 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Skip, this person writing suposedly for you must be one of the other candidates running against you! If you know who this person is, (and I hope you don't) I would have them knock it off, they are only hurting your chances!
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