Schenectady moose trapped, returned to Adirondacks

SCHENECTADY — Call it a happy ending for a moose that was spotted multiple times in recent weeks in Schenectady.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation on Monday announced that it tracked the creature to a residence in downtown Schenectady, trapped it and returned it to the wild.

“Immobilizing a large animal is a risky endeavor and is reserved for when it is truly a last resort and the situation is ideal for the welfare of the animal,” the DEC wrote on Twitter. “This was the case last week when the #moose ended up in a fenced-in backyard in Schenectady.”

The female cow moose was sighted multiple times in Schenectady and Niskayuna in recent weeks, and in one instance, received a police escort back to the Woodlawn Preserve. 

The backyard, according to the state agency, was in a quiet, shaded area and the temperatures were "not too hot."

Animals that are sedated often lose the ability to thermoregulate, said the DEC, and is a concern when "darting" a moose or a bear in warmer temperatures.

The wayward moose was ultimately released into the wilds of the southern Adirondacks. Video of its release shows the animal galloping into the forest after being sprung loose from a vehicle.

The DEC credited the teamwork between the agency’s Region 4 Bureau of Wildlife and Division of Law Enforcement staff for keeping the moose calm, “which led to a much easier time darting and moving this 500 pound animal."

The cow moose was fitted with a yellow ear tag for identification purposes.