Moose on the loose in Fargo tranquilized

Law enforcement and animal experts in the Fargo area surrounded a young bull moose at a local hotel, tranquilized it with a dart gun and released it in a wildlife area in northern Cass County.

Thirteen officers with the Fargo and West Fargo police departments and the state Highway Patrol contained the moose Wednesday morning in a courtyard area at the Mainstay Suites in the western part of Fargo.

Fargo Police Sgt. Ross Renner says a local veterinarian, an official from the local zoo and the state Game and Fish Department were called in to help. The moose was painted with white X's so that hunters will know not to shoot and eat the animal, since they could get sick because of the tranquilizer.

Sgt. Jeff Skuza says moose typically follow the Red River, but occasionally they wander into the city. Skuza says Fargo-area authorities deal with moose incidents a couple of times a year.