Moose Downs Helicopter in Alaska

Reno, NV - A moose downed a helicopter in Alaska Wednesday after the moose had been shot with a tranquilizer gun. Instead of passing out, the moose charged the helicopter used by a wildlife biologist, damaging the aircraft's tail rotor and forcing it to the ground.

While neither the pilot or biologist were hurt in the moose attack, the animal had to be destroyed after being mangled in the helicopter's blades.

The moose attack took place outside Gustavus, Alaska, a village with a population of only 459 people about 50 miles northwest of Juneau in southeast Alaska. Gustavus is considered a hot tourist spot during the summer season and may play into why the biologist was working near the area in his attempt to tranquilize the moose.

In a telephone interview, a Gustavus business owner told AXcess News that he didn't think the moose was a member of any terrorist organization nor that the helpless animal had entered U.S. territory illegally in any plot against the U.S Department of Wildlife Conservation, who had chartered the helicopter for the biologist. "To my knowledge, the moose was a U.S. citizen," he stated jokingly.

A Department of Wildlife Conservation spokesperson said the moose attack against the helicopter was a "quirky circumstance". There was no mention of what happened to the moose after it was destroyed and if you're wondering, the moose was said to be no relation to Bullwinkle, but AXcess News could not confirm the moose's last name as apparently it was not carrying identification at the time of the helicopter attack.

Rumor has that it that the Bear Track Inn in Gustavus, Alaska had moose on its dinner menu Saturday night (just kidding).