RENO, Nev. (AP) — Wildlife officials are pointing to an increase of moose sightings in northeastern Nevada as they ask state lawmakers to make it a felony to kill the big animal without a hunting tag.
The Reno Gazette Journal reports the Legislature was asked last week to add moose to a list of game animals including bighorn sheep, mountain goat, elk, deer, pronghorn, mountain lions and bears.
Nevada Department of Wildlife chief Tony Wasley told an Assembly committee that increased sightings of moose cows and calves in recent years suggest the animals are becoming permanent instead of just passing through.
Wasley says a biologist making a recent elk survey reported seeing as many as 60 moose.
Chief state Game Warden Tyler Turnipseed reported that moose killings have also risen in recent years.
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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com
