The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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  • A northern Minnesota moose has been day-tripping in the area recently. This cellphone photo was taken near Winthrop.

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September 18, 2012

Moose on the loose in Sibley County

By Brian Ojanpa Free Press Staff Writer

WINTHROP — Bullwinkle has gone AWOL.

A moose, far astray from his northern Minnesota habitat, has been making the rounds lately in the southern part of the state — most recently in Sibley County.

Sisters Karen Klenk and Vicki Mueller were driving to pick raspberries the other day when the animal was spotted in a prairie along County Road 10 about five miles from Winthrop. 

Klenk took cellphone photos of the moose casually reposing about 150 feet away.

“It was just such a shock,” she said of the encounter.

Added Mueller, “And he was the most beautiful sight.”

The women said a barking dog from a nearby farm made the moose amble off to adventures unknown.

Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Kurt Haroldson said moose that roam afar are most likely from northeastern Minnesota, where the state herd is concentrated.

“Generally, it’s young bulls who do this. They just have a lot of wander in them.”

Haroldson said years ago a Minnesota moose made it as far as Missouri.

He said roving moose often meet their ends when they get hit by cars or  are illegally taken by hunters. Moose hunting is only allowed in the extreme northeastern part of the state. 

As for the moose whereabouts, Haroldson cautioned against people moving in too close to take photos for reasons that should be obvious. 

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