Alaska Wildlife Troopers are investigating the death of a moose calf on Fort Greely near Delta Junction.
Fish and Game Spokeswoman Cathie Harms says a large group of concerned individuals gathered near the calf. She says Fish and Game received several call as about the calf Monday.
“What probably killed this calf is the fact that the cow wouldn’t come back with a lot of people standing around,” Harms said. “On several occasions we asked the people to leave the calf alone so the calf could reunite.”
“They were very concerned people and the continued disturbance kept the cow away.”
Necropsy results show the calf was severely dehydrated and likely died from being force fed a large volume of water. State law prohibits handling, disturbing, capturing and feeding wildlife without a permit. Harms says cases like this generally involve a member of the public who was genuinely trying to help.
“Invariably the best chance a wild animal, especially a baby has is to be left alone and let the parents take care of it, because humans can’t do what wild animal mothers can,” Harms said.
Biologists believe the calf was separated from its mother, but there was no cow reported in the area. According to Fish and Game, moose cows rarely separate from their calves for more than a day or two. The calf on Fort Greely was likely a week old.
