Alaska Moose Brings Down Helicopter
Monday, March 5, 2007 1:58 PM EST
The Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ A helicopter is not necessarily a match for an angry moose. Instead of lying down after being shot with a tranquilizer dart, a moose charged a hovering helicopter used by a wildlife biologist, damaging the aircraft's tail rotor and forcing it to the ground.
Neither the pilot nor the biologist was injured, but the moose was maimed by the spinning rotor and had to be euthanized, wildlife officials said.
"It just had to be one of those quirky circumstance. Even dealing with bears and goats and moose and wolves, this is pretty unusual and truly a very unique situation," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation.
Biologist Kevin White was aboard the chartered helicopter on Saturday for a study of moose near Gustavus, a community of 459 people about 50 miles northwest of Juneau in southeast Alaska. Moose outnumber humans there 2-to-1, White has written in an essay for the Department of Fish and Game Web site.
He shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart, Larsen said, and the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to keep the animal from slipping into a tight space or collapsing in water and drowning.
"The moose would start to move, and then the helicopter would back off and try to keep the moose out in the open," Larsen said.
But instead of moving toward open space, the moose charged the helicopter.
"As the animal got closer and closer to going down, an animal sort of loses its thinking _ its ability to rationalize what's in its best interest," Larsen said.
Body Parts Delivered to Michigan Home
Sunday, March 4, 2007 6:08 AM EST
The Associated Press
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) Two packages containing human body parts including a liver and part of a head meant for a medical research lab instead were delivered to a home.
The body parts, sent from China, were mistakenly dropped off Thursday at Franck and Ludivine Larmande's home by a DHL express driver who believed the bubble-wrapped items were pieces to a table.
"My husband started to unwrap one and said, 'This is strange, it looks like a liver,'" Ludivine Larmande said. "He started the second one, but stopped as soon as we saw the ear.
"Something wasn't right. It was scary, and I'm glad I didn't open them."
The couple called Kent County sheriff's deputies, who determined the preserved body parts were for medical research, Lt. Roger Parent said.
Authorities believe 28 more bubble-wrapped human organs and body parts could be dispersed across the country, The Grand Rapids Press reported. Two of five packages headed to the northern Michigan lab broke open, scattering their contents.
"There will definitely be a shock to people if they see these things, but there is no hazard to health," Parent said.
DHL is investigating whether it should have shipped the body parts and how the packages were dispersed, spokesman Robert Mints said.
Call me Rash Dipdock!!
Monday, March 5, 2007 1:58 PM EST
The Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ A helicopter is not necessarily a match for an angry moose. Instead of lying down after being shot with a tranquilizer dart, a moose charged a hovering helicopter used by a wildlife biologist, damaging the aircraft's tail rotor and forcing it to the ground.
Neither the pilot nor the biologist was injured, but the moose was maimed by the spinning rotor and had to be euthanized, wildlife officials said.
"It just had to be one of those quirky circumstance. Even dealing with bears and goats and moose and wolves, this is pretty unusual and truly a very unique situation," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation.
Biologist Kevin White was aboard the chartered helicopter on Saturday for a study of moose near Gustavus, a community of 459 people about 50 miles northwest of Juneau in southeast Alaska. Moose outnumber humans there 2-to-1, White has written in an essay for the Department of Fish and Game Web site.
He shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart, Larsen said, and the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to keep the animal from slipping into a tight space or collapsing in water and drowning.
"The moose would start to move, and then the helicopter would back off and try to keep the moose out in the open," Larsen said.
But instead of moving toward open space, the moose charged the helicopter.
"As the animal got closer and closer to going down, an animal sort of loses its thinking _ its ability to rationalize what's in its best interest," Larsen said.
Body Parts Delivered to Michigan Home
Sunday, March 4, 2007 6:08 AM EST
The Associated Press
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) Two packages containing human body parts including a liver and part of a head meant for a medical research lab instead were delivered to a home.
The body parts, sent from China, were mistakenly dropped off Thursday at Franck and Ludivine Larmande's home by a DHL express driver who believed the bubble-wrapped items were pieces to a table.
"My husband started to unwrap one and said, 'This is strange, it looks like a liver,'" Ludivine Larmande said. "He started the second one, but stopped as soon as we saw the ear.
"Something wasn't right. It was scary, and I'm glad I didn't open them."
The couple called Kent County sheriff's deputies, who determined the preserved body parts were for medical research, Lt. Roger Parent said.
Authorities believe 28 more bubble-wrapped human organs and body parts could be dispersed across the country, The Grand Rapids Press reported. Two of five packages headed to the northern Michigan lab broke open, scattering their contents.
"There will definitely be a shock to people if they see these things, but there is no hazard to health," Parent said.
DHL is investigating whether it should have shipped the body parts and how the packages were dispersed, spokesman Robert Mints said.
Call me Rash Dipdock!!
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
meow:
Thanks for the comment on my "Revolution" set! 
annika:
I know it's almost two months later, but I was looking at my set comments today and yours made me smile. Your kind words mean so much.