(Spencer)– A moose is on the loose in northwest Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says it’s received sightings of what’s believed to be a young male bull moose last week near Sibley and Monday near Langdon in Clay county.
DNR Wildlife Bureau Chief Dale Garner says it’s likely the moose wandered south from Minnesota. He warns anyone who sees it to keep their distance.
Garner also warns motorists to be on the lookout. Because moose are dark colored and are tall, their eyes don’t match up with headlights on most vehicles, making them very difficult to spot at night when crossing a road.
A full-grown moose can by six to seven feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 1,500 pounds. By comparison, whitetail bucks would rarely reach 300 pounds.
Garner says a wandering moose is usually spotted in Iowa every three to five years. The last one spotted in Lyon county near Rock Rapids a couple of years ago eventually turned around and headed back north.
