STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IDAHO FISH AND GAME

Moose apparently love Sun Valley Resort just as much as visitors from around the world.

But they’re not the kind of visitors the resort wants to attract.

Idaho Fish and Game officers recently relocated two moose from Sun Valley properties, and they relocated a third moose that had made itself at home in a residential area north of Hailey to mitigate risks to public safety.

One cow moose was moved from Sun Valley Village on Saturday, Jan. 14, after several instances of people approaching too closely led to reports of the moose becoming agitated. The moose was anesthetized and moved to Fish Creek north of Carey.

Five days later, on Thursday, Jan. 19, Fish and Game moved a moose that had been seen directly underneath the Challenger ski lift on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain. The moose had been reported to be in the area for several days in close proximity to an area where hundreds of skiers were coming very close.

It, too, was darted and anesthetized and moved to Fish Creek north of Carey. Officials said they did not know whether the moose was the same one that had charged a woman outside her Warm Springs home a week earlier after her dog barked at it.

The moose that took up residence in a neighborhood on the north end of Hailey reportedly charged a dog in a backyard. After residents worried that the moose might be a public safety risk, Fish and Game officers monitored the situation.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, after receiving reports that it had become more agitated, they darted and anesthetized the moose and moved it into the Bennett Mountains north of Glenns Ferry.

Blaine County is home to a robust population of moose, many of whom frequent valley locations where homes were built within habitat favored by moose, said Terry Thompson, communications manager for Idaho Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region.

During winter when food is scarce moose try to avoid burning calories. Repeated encounters with people a dogs may agitate a moose that is already stressed by snow and cold temperatures.

Too much stress can trigger their fight-or-flight response, and moose often choose to fight.

Moose show stress by laying their ears down or by raising the hair or hackles on their neck. They may snort, grunt or stomp their hooves. Anyone who sees any of these signs should put a tree or vehicle between themselves and the moose immediately, said Thompson.

Questions? Call Magic Valley Region at 208-324-4359.

LION ALERT

Wood River Valley residents and visitors are being cautioned to be alert in the River Run area of Bald Mountain as there have been mountain lion sightings there.