In Red Lodge, Montana, a local skate park became an unexpected rescue site when a roughly 1,000-pound bull moose ended up trapped in the park's concrete bowl.
Here's what to know
Road closures went up around the park as multiple agencies responded, KTVQ reported.
Chrissy Webb, a spokesperson for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, said crews arrived around 9 a.m., and after initial rescue efforts failed, they tranquilized the bull and moved it outside town. The Carbon County Sheriff's Office, Red Lodge Fire Rescue, and Red Lodge police also responded.
After wandering into the deep bowl, the moose couldn't get enough grip on the concrete to climb back out.
Resident Laura Stone said she and Christian Stone spotted emergency lights while driving their children to school.
"I was wondering what was going on," Laura Stone said. "Oftentimes it's somebody getting hurt over here but not typically a moose."
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More background
Red Lodge residents told KTVQ that wildlife moving through town is routine, but many said this incident was unusual even by local standards.
"We've seen a lot of animals in town, never a moose in the bottom of a skate park," Steve Langlas said.
Missy Langlas said the bull seemed calm even as more people stopped to watch.
"He didn't panic," she said. "But obviously, he can't get out."
A trapped animal of that size in a public recreation area can quickly become dangerous for both the animal and nearby people if it gets stressed, and social media photos prompted more residents to head downtown.
Resident Sam Merrick said, "This morning when I got up on social media, I saw a picture of him, his antlers sticking up over the edge of the skate park. I had to come down on my bike."
Crowding can complicate wildlife encounters, particularly when an animal is cornered in a built environment. In Red Lodge, authorities reduced that risk by shutting down the area around the park.
What's being done?
Before crews used tranquilizers, they tried a less invasive option: placing rubber mats in the bowl so the moose could get enough traction to climb out on its own.
Once that failed, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks decided to tranquilize the moose and relocate it. Wildlife officials, sheriff's deputies, firefighters, and local police all took part.
Officials asked the public to avoid the immediate area during the rescue. Although residents gathered along nearby sidewalks, closures gave crews room to work and reduced the chance that people coming too close would further stress the moose.
Locals reacted with a blend of concern and amusement, while rallying around the same goal.
"We're rooting for the moose," Steve Langlas said, per KTVQ.
"So are the game wardens," Missy Langlas added. "Everybody's trying."
Where can I learn more?
This isn't the first time that wildlife has gotten stuck in human-made spaces.
• In southern Alberta, Canada, officers hooded and hoisted a deer wedged tightly between fences.
• In Australia, rescuers spent hours guiding a kangaroo out of a parking garage.
• In La Verne, California, rescuers cut open a water tank to free bears.
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