A sign along the lowest reaches of the Woods Canyon trail on the edge of Jackson tells hikers to beware of critters that might be scavenging the remains of a moose carcass.
Scraps of tissue spread around the mouth of Woods Canyon appear to be about all that remain from a bull moose that the Bridger-Teton National Forest exploded to diminish the chance of conflict between carnivores and hikers.
A sign along the lowest reaches of the Woods Canyon trail on the edge of Jackson tells hikers to beware of critters that might be scavenging the remains of a moose carcass.
Scraps of tissue spread around the mouth of Woods Canyon appear to be about all that remain from a bull moose that the Bridger-Teton National Forest exploded to diminish the chance of conflict between carnivores and hikers.
Worried about possible people-carnivore conflict, Bridger-Teton National Forest officials recently exploded a full-grown bull moose whose final resting place was along a popular trail near the Cache Creek trailhead.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel received a report from a hiker of the moose carcass’ whereabouts near the mouth of Woods Canyon late last week, and on Thursday night Game Warden Kyle Lash removed the head of the animal, which outwardly looked to be in good shape.
The next morning, Game and Fish’s brucellosis/feedground/habitat biologist, Ben Wise, examined the moose head and found “a lot” of carotid artery worms, which can cause blindness.
“We pulled a golf-ball-size amount of worms out of one side of [the artery],” Lash said, “and it was about the same on the others side.”
The animal’s lungs were also black, likely from pneumonia, but Wise’s assessment was that the parasitic worms were likely the leading cause of death. There was nothing to indicate the animal had been poached, Lash said.
The moose carcass, which was within the Gros Ventre Wilderness, was blown up by the Bridger-Teton on Friday.
“There’s nothing left,” Lash said. “It’s kind of a slick way to get rid of a carcass.”
The idea behind using explosives is that the not-so-intact body would be scavenged and thus dissipate much more quickly, reducing the odds that large carnivores would linger in an area frequented by people. Mountain lions, black bears and wolves are all regular inhabitants of the Cache Creek area. Lash passed on his concerns to the Bridger-Teton, especially because the Woods Canyon Trail is well-used by elk hunters in November.
The Jackson Hole Daily was unable to reach Bridger-Teton officials Sunday to learn how the explosion went, but Jackson Hole News&Guide copy editor Mark Huffman happened to be in the Cache Creek area when the sickened moose went “boom.” A forest staffer on site told him that 100 pounds of explosives were used to incinerate and distribute the rotting remains.
“It really was a large, impressive noise,” Huffman said. “The initial noise was like a crack, rather than what you would expect. You could hear [the percussion] moving around and echoing in that little, narrow canyon.”
A visit to the mouth of Woods Canyon on Saturday suggested that the bull’s body is now in tiny pieces and spread across a large area. A sign downslope lets hikers know what they’re about to pass by.
While the carcass itself is now unidentifiable, the pall of rot that lingers in the air is telling of the location of the moose’s explosion.
Holy carcass Batman, what happened to the evidence? Robin, get the bat mobile, this looks like a problem we need to solve. Batman, sounds to me like a terrorist attack. You could be right Robin, call the President. Wam bam Batman, there's nothing left. Robin, I wonder, was there something in his stomach that they didn't want us to see? Could be Batman, but it sure stinks around here. Robin this whole thing is fishy??? Tune in next week for the next episode of "The Taliban Moose attack."
This is what happens when you put the explosives in the wrong hands. And everybody is worried about guns? I wonder who's idea this was from the top down? Only the government is allowed to blow up animals............?
Burning the carcass would be a better idea. It insures that all the body parts are destroyed and birds don't get any of it to spread around. Burning completely destroys everything and in the end, you rake and shovel the ashes and you are gone. I can't believe that they used explosives.
Mr. Addeo my thoughts too! An Explosive would do nothing to avoid contamination of the area by whatever killed this moose a flame thrower would insure of spreading the disease so the Men In Black should have been called!!! That is sarcasm there!!! Heavy machines are always available and could have provided a more complete examination necropsy of the body!! Using explosives like this only guarantees press coverage and speculation by the public and press!! Any idea of Rocky went after the death of his buddy???
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(9) comments
Holy carcass Batman, what happened to the evidence? Robin, get the bat mobile, this looks like a problem we need to solve. Batman, sounds to me like a terrorist attack. You could be right Robin, call the President. Wam bam Batman, there's nothing left. Robin, I wonder, was there something in his stomach that they didn't want us to see? Could be Batman, but it sure stinks around here. Robin this whole thing is fishy??? Tune in next week for the next episode of "The Taliban Moose attack."
This moose died from foul play. We have arrested two Russians named Boris and Natasha.
The whereabouts of frequent companion to this moose an above average flying squirrel named "Rocky" at this time is unknown!
This is what happens when you put the explosives in the wrong hands. And everybody is worried about guns? I wonder who's idea this was from the top down? Only the government is allowed to blow up animals............?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBgThvB_IDQ
1970 KATU -- Oregon's Exploding Whale
Bizarre.
Burning the carcass would be a better idea. It insures that all the body parts are destroyed and birds don't get any of it to spread around. Burning completely destroys everything and in the end, you rake and shovel the ashes and you are gone. I can't believe that they used explosives.
Nice! We can blow up dead animals, but can't cut grass on the top of a mountain. Sounds logical?
Mr. Addeo my thoughts too! An Explosive would do nothing to avoid contamination of the area by whatever killed this moose a flame thrower would insure of spreading the disease so the Men In Black should have been called!!! That is sarcasm there!!! Heavy machines are always available and could have provided a more complete examination necropsy of the body!! Using explosives like this only guarantees press coverage and speculation by the public and press!! Any idea of Rocky went after the death of his buddy???
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