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John Hollenhorst ReportingWildlife experts today began capturing moose by helicopter in Northern Utah. It's the first time they've done that in four years, ever since a similar effort led to the death of three men in a helicopter crash.
A bunch of moose had the ride of their lives today, presumably not a very welcome one. Officials hope it will lead them to a better life in Colorado and safer conditions for people in Utah. The capture is underway in the Pineview Reservoir area east of Ogden.
Each animal is brought in individually, dangling and spinning under a helicopter. Once they're dropped back on the ground, they get antibiotics, ear-tags and radio collars. Then each cow is reunited with her calf. They're being taken to a mesa in Colorado which is under-populated with moose. This part of Utah has more than is considered healthy.
Justin Dolling, Utah Div. of Wildlife Resources: "We're seeing moose disperse into residential areas, into the city. And so, yeah, if moose become overpopulated, they disperse. You know a moose is a big animal and that big animal walking through somebody's yard or alongside an interstate highway can be a dangerous thing."
In the last such operation four years ago, a helicopter crashed after snagging a powerline support cable. The chopper fell onto the frozen surface of Mountain Dell Reservoir in Parley's Canyon. Three men were killed.
One official said that tragedy was in the back of everyone's mind today. They say they've taken a number of steps this time to insure a safer operation.
Colorado is expected to return the favor with shipments of Bighorn Sheep to Utah.
