A dead adult female moose was discovered near the Denali Post office inside Denali National Park and Preserve this morning. Park staff quickly determined the cow moose had been shot and killed one or two days prior to its detection.
Her calves are still in the area. Park wildlife staff, in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, has determined that catching the calves at this time is not feasible because, at about three weeks old, they are too mobile and trying to catch them would pose a danger to them. The situation will be monitored, and if the calves weaken enough to be caught safely they will be captured and transferred to a captive rearing facility.
People authorized to carry firearms under Alaska State law are allowed to carry firearms in the park, however, the discharge of a firearm in the park and killing of the moose is a violation of both 36 CFR 2.3(a)(1)(iii) and 2.2(a)(1) - using a weapon and taking of wildlife.
While there is not a “defense of life and property" (DLP) provision in the federal laws governing national parks, there is under Alaska State law and it must be reported.
Due to the method and circumstances of the shooting and the lack of a report, this event is suspected to be an illegal killing of park wildlife and not considered DLP, at this time.
Park rangers are investigating the shooting of the cow moose.
Additional park information is available on this website or at 907-683-9532 from 9 am to 4:30 pm daily.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
