Some football fans heading to the Banjo Bowl Saturday afternoon arrived late thanks to a moose that caused traffic issues around Investors Group Field.
Police had to close Chancellor Matheson Road at the University of Manitoba as conservation officers tried to apprehend the animal right around kickoff time at 2 p.m.
Shortly after the game started, Winnipeg police tweeted that the moose had been tranquilized near the stadium.
Police believe this was likely the same moose that was roaming around the city on Friday. It was seen in the Crescent Park area, and was also spotted swimming in the Red River.
On Sunday police confirmed the moose had been transferred to a wildlife area north of the city. They said thankfully the issue was resolved with no harm to members of the public or the animal.
“Whether it’s our officers or conservation we have to be very aware of our target, in this case the animal, but also the backdrop they can’t be shooting and hit something else, potentially an unintended target,” said Const. Rob Carver.
Police said conservation officers had to use three doses of tranquilizer on the roughly 700 pound animal.
Police said Chancellor Matheson has been re-opened.
"It's rare, it's happened before that there have been in the past, you know, before my time, but animals do travel up the river and they are major corridors for wildlife and things like this can happen," said Joe Johannesson, a conservation officer and district supervisor with Manitoba Sustainable Development.
Johannesson said the moose was tough to catch.
"He's been all over through the neighbourhood,” said Johannesson.
Police confirmed a trailer was borrowed to transfer the moose but wouldn't say where the trailer came from.
(Source: Manitoba Conservation Officers' Association/Twitter)
