It was easy enough for a 1,000-pound bull moose to find its way into a Montana skatepark Wednesday morning but getting back out proved much more difficult.
The moose wandered into Hellroaring Skatepark in Red Lodge and became trapped one of the concrete bowls, where it could not get enough traction to climb back out….can you say Bowl Moose
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks responded around 9 a.m. Oct. 7, joined by the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, Red Lodge Fire Rescue and Red Lodge Police Department. Authorities closed the skatepark and nearby streets while crews tried to figure out how to remove the animal without injuring it or putting responders at unnecessary risk.
Crews First Tried To Give The Moose Some Traction
Before tranquilizing the animal, responders placed large rubber mats inside the concrete bowl in hopes the moose could use them to gain enough traction to climb out on its own. The attempt did not work, and the animal remained stuck for several hours.
The bull appeared calm for much of the ordeal, although witnesses told local media it looked increasingly tired after repeatedly trying to escape the steep bowl. Residents gathered along nearby sidewalks to watch, with several recognizing the moose as an animal that has been seen around Red Lodge before.
Around 2 p.m., FWP successfully tranquilized the moose after two attempts. Crews then removed it from the bowl and transported it outside town, where wildlife officials determined it was healthy enough to be released. The rescue ended without reported injuries to the moose or the responders.
Wildlife In Red Lodge Is Nothing New
Red Lodge sits along the eastern edge of the Beartooth Mountains, and wildlife regularly moves through the community. Residents told MTN News that moose and bears are familiar sights around town, although finding a bull moose at the bottom of a skatepark was a new one.
One resident said the bull involved in Wednesday’s rescue may be the same animal that has become familiar around town after repeatedly appearing near homes and roads. Local observers have also reported seeing a cow and calf in the area.
The skatepark incident ended about as well as it could have. After spending several hours surrounded by concrete walls, wildlife officers and a growing crowd of onlookers, the bull was safely returned to an area outside Red Lodge and walked away uninjured.
