WILSON, Wyo. — Another moose was killed this morning, July 6, after being struck by a vehicle on Moose Wilson Road, Highway 390 near C-Bar-V Ranch.
Teton County Sheriffs were dispatched to the scene at about 7:30 a.m. and arrived within four minutes, according to Teton County Sheriffs Deputy Jesse Willcox.
The calf was injured with a broken leg and there was no mom moose in the area, Wilcox explained. “Due to the condition of the calf, he [the responding officer] dispatched it,” Willcox said.
The vehicle that struck the calf was not on the scene when officers arrived.
A Wyoming Department of Transportation employee was also in the area and picked up the calf carcass located in close proximity to the bike path. Wyoming Department of Transportation has procedures in place to retrieve and dispose of wildlife carcasses.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Jackson Game Warden, Kyle Lash was also advised about the accident. “This is the fourth moose in the last month that has been hit,” Mark Gocke WGFD Jackson Region public information specialist said.
“Another moose calf was hit on June 20th about a mile north of the junction [Highway 390 and Highway 22]. On June 25th a bull moose was hit on the other side of Teton Pass, and on June 3rd we had a yearling moose that was hit on the pass by the Heidelberg.” Gocke said.
A black bear was killed on Teton Pass after being struck by two vehicles on June 17.
“This is really a kind of frustrating and sad reminder that we need to slow down and watch for these animals particularly at night and in the early morning,” Gocke said, adding, “We live in a place with abundant wildlife, with that comes the responsibility of trying to coexist and being mindful when we are driving.”
Gocke urged drivers, especially on Highway 390, to be mindful of the wildlife habitat they are traveling through. Drivers are urged to slow down and assume that wildlife is present at any time of day. The speed limit on highway 390 is 45 mph during the day and 35 mph at night. Drivers should be able to stop within their headlight zone. Although moose have “eye shine” or tapetum lucidum underneath the retina of their eyes, they can be hard to spot at night because they stand higher than headlights and have dark coats.
