No, it’s not the big critter of Rocky the Flying Squirrel fame. Bullwinkle Moose, as some have dubbed him, is a young bull moose that’s apparently lost and seeking home. First seen in September, moseying around Iowa, Bullwinkle Moose was reported last week in southern Minnesota, and his followers are tracking him via Facebook.
Tracking far south from the norm
It’s unusual to see a moose this far south, says a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources big game expert. Typically moose range much farther north in the North Star State, but Bullwinkle Moose, or “Rutt” as some have dubbed him, was indeed south of the normal stomping grounds. The young fellow has some 36,000 followers.
Brenda Johnson began the Central MN Moose on the Loose Facebook page. She started it after hearing about another “lost” moose, back in 2018. Sadly, that adventurer lost his life in the path of a semi-truck. Then she heard of the most recent young bull’s travels. Based on sightings, she thinks Bullwinkle Moose came from North Dakota, through South Dakota, then into Iowa.
Followers are enthralled with Bullwinkle Moose. “This moose has brought so much joy to so many people and so much hope,” Bernie Stang said, “because most people in their lifetime never get to see a moose.”
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Please don’t forget Marty the Moose – who wandered down into New Mexico this fall. I’ve lived in NM for 55 years and until recently had never heard of a Moose sighting this far south.
It is believed Marty wandered down here looking for a mate, something not likely to be found. Game and Fish relocated Marty to far northern NM and since then the trail has gone cold….
Safe travels Marty and Rutt!
Thanks, Kyle. As a matter of fact, Marty the Moose was discussed at our weekly staff meeting today. Stay tuned… And have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I live in New Mexico and was intrigued by stories of Marty the Moose so I wrote this. Thanks for the heads-up – it’s funny that he got “relocated” and then just came right back. Could it be the chili and is it red, or green?
Oh, it’s the RED 🙂 Good write up Tony, thank you.
In the summer of 2015 I was shocked to have captured a young bull moose on two different trail cameras on a property in SE MN fewer than 50 miles from the Iowa border. Our DNR said it was very rare for wandering bulls to be that far east in southern MN.
The bull on my trail cam made an appearance walking down a street in Lanesboro, MN and later southwest into Iowa making it as far south as Des Moines.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Poor Bullwinkle. 🙁 I hope that he finds a home soon and avoids the fate that befell the fate of the wandering moose of 2018.