Spoon Lake Moose meets sad ending

Hungry Horse News

A Spoon Lake Moose ended up in the North Valley Food Bank after it broke its leg late Sunday night.

The moose, which had been a neighborhood attraction, apparently managed to get in between a foundation wall and a dirt hillside, said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden Perry Brown.

Folks living near the construction tried in vain to get the moose out, using ramps.

The moose was likely attracted to homes by salt licks. Folks apparently had been putting salt blocks out for the animal.

The bull moose was a good sized animal, said Mike Dalimata, who volunteers with the Food Bank.

He said when they took it out, one end hung over one side of the pickup and the other end hung over the over side. He estimated the moose weighed between 1,200 and 1,300 pounds, undressed.

The moose will be butchered and made into hamburger for Food Bank patrons. It's too tough to make into steaks, Dalimata noted.

The moose was being stored in a meat locker until it could be butchered.