Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-12-28
A MOOSE DISEASE.


Game Commissioner Investigating
Many Reports of sick Moose.
Game Warden Ruth, OF Lnncus, re-
Gently reported the finding by him OF
sick COW moose, which proved upon ex-
animation to be suffering from disease OF
the throat. Similar reports from other SEC
tions has aroused an interest in the Ques-
tion whether or not the moose in Maine
are suffering from some disease, posi-
bly, tuberculosis. The question has not
yet been decided, but the matter will be
Investigated with the assistance OF veteri-
nary surgeons, and it Is possible that
solution may be forthcoming in the near
future.
Chairman Bracket, OF the commission
Of inland fisheries and game, has received
during the past Nw days . number OF
letters from the game wardens OF the
State, who are without doubt more IA
miliar with the moose and its habits than
any other class OF woodsmen, and while
q few OF them express the belief that the
only disease with which the animals are
effected is that which comes from being
shot, the majority OF them are OF the
opinion that disease exists and that it
has caused the death OF . number Of
moose, mostly cows.
Capt. William T. Pollard, of Foxcroft,
| one Of the oldest and best known game
wardens in the State, writes Chairman
Brsckett that he has seen from one to
three sick moose each year for the past ten
years, and that they were mostly all
and summer he saw two.
Last April he saw . yearling bull moose
at West Seboeis that came out OF the
woods there, and for which the night
station agent built . yard. The animal
vas as tame rs dog and would eat and
| drink, but Warden Pollard thought there
was something the matter with the moose,
and his belief was confirmed by the fact
that in about three weeks the animal died.
The warden also cites the case OF q two
year-oid COW moose which pastured all
summer with some cattle At Brownville.
She was thin in flesh at first, but began to
gain, and when she left the cattle In the
fall she was in fine condition.
In his letter Warden Pollard tells of
finding at different times several moose in
the woods which he believed to be i'll, a.
he could 20 mp to them and put his arm
over their neck aud lead them. One OF
these in particular was Q COW which be
caught up on the side OF Kineo. rope
was placed about her neck, after which
she WAS taken to the Kineo house and led
about on the lawn. She staid about there
for two weeks and then died. He does not
think there are any more sick moose at
present than there were ten years ago.
Game Warden d. s. Cummings, of
Houiton, reports that about three weeks
ago several sick moose came under his
observation, one case in particular being
that OF Q two-year-old COW moose on
Lake Sqssre thoroughfare, and which was
seen everyday for three weeks when
ever he passed that way.
He Was coming out OF the thoroughfare
with 9 New York gentleman, and they
noticed the moose standing on the shore.
Feeling that the moose was sick. the war
den padded up to the shore, and when
they had approached within about 100
feet of her she turned quickly, ran
about fifty feet and stopping, began to
cough much as . horse would cough. Ii
was the opinion OF the New York man
that she had tuberculosis.
A few days after that they found the
moose dead near the water. Warden
Cummings also tells OF another case, OF
COW moose which was running in q
pasture with the cattle. She was appar-
entity sick, and manifested similar symp-
toms to those of the moose already men,
toned After her death he had yeteri-
marian examine her throat and lungs for
symptoms of tuberculosis, but none was
found.
David Brown, OF GreenviIie junction,
writes that he does not remem Der OF hav-
ing seen any sick moose this year, but has
heard of one or two during the past sum-
mer. Prior to that he had seen . few
moose, young and old, which had died OF
some disease.
The latest word received at the depart
ment was telegram from Game Warden
Jorgensen, from Ashland, stating that
yesrling COW moose had Just died there
from disease, and asking il he should get
veterinarian for examination. Chairman
Bracket instructed him to have an ex-
animation made and report the result.
These are but few OF the many letters
received ct the department, but the in
formation which they contain seems
to indicate that thera 10 sonnet hing besides
bullets that il killing the Maine moose,
and In the ma iority OF cases the victims