Conn. Officials Warn Drivers About Moose Along The Merritt Parkway, I-84
HARTFORD, CT (WCBS 880/AP) -- Connecticut officials are warning drivers to be on the lookout for moose along the Merritt Parkway.
With moose, there's mass. An average moose typically weighs around 800 pounds and stands six feet high at the shoulder.
If hit, an animal that size can catapult onto the roof of a vehicle on impact.
WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reports: Moose A Menace To Motorists
Podcast
Dennis Schain at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection says drivers are being warned on the heels of sightings in the western half of the state.
Officials say a moose was spotted Monday on Porter Hill Road in Trumbull near Route 25 and the Merritt Parkway.
"A moose was seen near I-84 near Waterbury and also Bethel," said Schain.
Schain says with moose, your high-beams might not get the eye shine you'd get as a warning from other, smaller animals along the road. He says to be especially careful when driving around dusk and dawn.
Young moose go wandering for food and mates from the woods of northern Connecticut. They typically head south into more populated areas and the result is often disastrous.
The DEP says there are more than 100 moose now in the state.
Moose sightings can be reported to the DEP's 24-hour dispatch line at 860-424-3333.
Have there been any moose sightings in your area? Let us know in our comments section.
(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
