A moose that wandered onto Highway 417 during the morning commute in Ottawa, Canada, on July 19 was euthanized by officials who determined it had an injured front leg and posed a risk in the heavily trafficked area, according to the Ottawa Sun.
The young male was first reported at around 6:15 am on the shoulder of the highway, and was soon surrounded by police and provincial vehicles to shield it from traffic, CBS Ottawa reported. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry told local media that tranquilizing the moose was not an option, due to its size, unpredictability, the heavy traffic in the area, and its injury.
The incident caused delays for commuters along Highway 417, also known as the Queensway. Ontario Provincial Police said a stretch of the road was closed for about an hour.
The episode also inspired a parody Twitter account, @HighwayMoose, which elicited a response from the Ottawa Police, saying: “Your legacy will live on.” Credit: @caitlin_shanny via Storyful
