Moose Euthanized In Granby, Tested For Incurable Disease

GRANBY, CT — A sick moose that has been regularly seen around Granby for the past month has been euthanized, according to officials.

The bull moose, which officials said posed a public safety threat, was disoriented and had lost body weight over time to the point where it was emaciated and could barely walk or stand. Biologists from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection were called to assist Granby officials with the moose on July 10.

“The moose showed no fear of vehicles or humans and posed a serious public safety threat by standing in and around Route 20, a very busy road,” DEEP officials wrote in a post on Facebook. “DEEP biologists determined that the moose was 3 years old and weighed only 525 pounds; healthy bulls of similar age in Connecticut should weigh over 800 pounds. DEEP biologists safely and humanely euthanized the moose and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab is testing the moose to check for brain worm or other conditions. Brain worm is an incurable disease affecting the moose population in the United States. It is often prevalent at the southern extent of the moose’s range (Connecticut) where populations overlap with high deer populations. Unfortunately, this illness has become an annual occurrence in our moose population.”

Officials said test results are pending.