(Riverton, WY) – A moose was rescued from a canal waterway in Riverton Sunday afternoon, August 11, thanks to a call from a concerned citizen and the actions of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO).
The first reports of the moose were made Saturday evening, August 10, when WGFD and the Riverton Police Department (RPD) learned that it had been seen walking on Broadway Ave., according to North Riverton Game Warden Zach Bernhardt.
Warden Bernhardt went on to tell County 10 that he and a couple of RPD officers then began monitoring the moose, which eventually made its way into a meadow where they “let it be,” as it appeared to making its way out of town.
The next day around 1 PM, WGFD and the FCSO both received calls that a moose was stuck in a canal near Webbwood Road.
Warden Bernhardt then called the South Riverton Game Warden Conor Curhan, where they formulated a plan with the help of FCSO Deputies Megan Lee and Rhett Rogge.
By using loud noises to gently push it along, the group was able to guide the moose down the canal, where at one point it attempted to jump out, but could not make it due to the concrete sides.
They eventually coaxed the moose to the other side of the bridge over Webbwood, where it was able to get better traction and climb its way out due to the vegetation on the sides of the canal in that area.
Darian Bernhardt shared the following videos of the rescue with County 10.
Warden Bernhardt stated WGFD did not relocate the moose after the rescue, but they will track it to make sure it continues to move out of town.
Warden Bernhardt also wanted to remind folks to keep their distance from moose and other large animals, even though that might be hard to do since it is pretty rare to see them in parts of town they do not normally roam.
“By all means, take pictures, but don’t get too close,” Warden Bernhardt commented. “When you get too close, that’s when conflicts arise.”
In the event of any future sightings, WGFD can be contacted here.