Moose attacks helicopter

GUSTAVUS, Alaska, March 5 (UPI) -- A cow moose near Gustavus, Alaska, had to be euthanized at the scene after it attacked a hovering helicopter.

The pilot and a biologist aboard the helicopter, which was brought down after the animal charged the rear rotor, were not injured, the Anchorage Daily News reported Monday.

"I have never personally seen or heard of an injury of this type, caused to an animal by an aircraft," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation. "It just had to be one of those quirky circumstances. Even dealing with bears and goats and moose and wolves, this is pretty unusual and truly a very unique situation."

Larsen said the moose was injured badly enough that biologist Kevin White, who was aboard the helicopter, decided it had to be put down.

"It was really beyond help at that point," Larsen said. "When it hit its nose, it basically chopped off the end of its nose. It was really severely injured."