POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho Fish and Game lethally removed two adult moose from the I-15 and I-86 interchange on the morning of Friday, October 23, after the animals remained in roadway space and threatened drivers.
The animals were a cow and a bull. Fish and Game determined euthanasia was necessary because moving the moose away from the interchange would have required them to cross a road and multiple traffic lanes.
The cow had previously been removed from the Chubbuck area and was wearing an ear tag.
Regional Conservation Officer Tim Klucken said decisions involving wildlife removal are made carefully. He advised motorists to watch for animals near roads, particularly during early morning and nighttime hours when wildlife can be more active and difficult to see.
The response followed other recent wildlife-related traffic incidents in the region. Dr. Mark Baker, 66, died in September after his vehicle struck an elk on I-15 near the Utah-Idaho border. That same month, three vehicles collided with a moose on I-86 in Power County, injuring several people.
Drivers who encounter dangerous wildlife near a roadway should contact Idaho Fish and Game or law enforcement.