Moose Spotted in Northwest Iowa
Category: press release
Oct 31st, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Oct 31st, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Posted: October 19, 2010
DES MOINES – Ducks and geese aren’t the only species making a fall migration to the south. In recent days, some northwest Iowa residents have been treated to the sight of a moose wandering the countryside.
The latest reported sightings were in the area of Sibley in Osceola County last week and near Langdon in Clay County on Monday.
Sighting of the moose is prompting Department of Natural Resources biologists to remind residents that the animal is a protected species and illegal to hunt in Iowa.
The moose is likely a young male bull that has wandered southward from Minnesota, according to DNR Wildlife Bureau Chief Dale Garner.
“I would strongly urge people not to get close to this animal if they see it. Like most wild animals, it can be unpredictable and certainly a charging moose can be very dangerous,” said Garner.
Garner said the motorists should also be on the lookout for the moose near areas where it is been spotted.
“Because moose are dark colored and because they are so tall that their eyes don’t match up with the headlights on most vehicles, they can be extremely tough to spot at night when crossing a road,” said Garner.
A full-grown moose can be six to seven feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 1,500 pounds. By comparison, whitetail bucks would rarely reach 300 pounds.
Garner said a wandering moose is usually spotted in Iowa every three to five years. The last one spotted in Lyon County near Rock Rapids a couple of years ago eventually turned around and headed back north.