The shooting of a moose captured on video is raising questions about New Brunswick’s practice of putting down animals that stray into trouble.
A large moose was spotted along the Trans-Canada Highway in Moncton Tuesday and when it wouldn’t move, officials with the Department of Natural Resources decided the animal had to be put down.
The first shot from the ranger missed, but the second one didn’t. It struck the moose in the back leg, breaking it instantly.
A man recorded the incident, which was too graphic to show in its entirety during Thursday’s CTV newscast.
Officials with the Department of Natural Resources say the result is regrettable, but they had no other choice.
“At that particular place it was right next to Highway 2, four-lane highway, which traffic is very fast,” says department spokesperson Leon LeBlanc. “It wasn’t moving. That moose was there all day.”
The wounded animal is seen approaching the highway, bleeding heavily. The officer takes another shot and the moose falls, but is still alive.
All forest rangers with the department have extensive firearm and marksmanship training. However, LeBlanc admits the ranger’s aim was off.
“The first time I think he wanted to scare it away and the second time he missed,” says LeBlanc. “It wasn’t a good shot. Then he had a hard time euthanizing it properly. It’s unfortunate.”
He also says that when they can, rangers tranquilize animals so they can be relocated, but that wasn’t an option for the moose in question.
“It was three days before moose season,” he says. “That drug in the body of that moose would be good if it was killed legally after for the meat.”
LeBlanc says all incidents are reviewed and this one will be too, but other than having a bad aim, the ranger did nothing wrong.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
