Department of Natural Resources officials are asking for the public's help to find the poachers who killed an endangered mainland moose that was removed for safety reasons last month from St. Croix, Hants Co.

The animal's remains were found in woods near Highway 101 near Mount Uniacke. It was cut up, the meat removed, and the hide and head left behind.

Biologists, wildlife technicians and conservation officers had tranquilized the four-year-old, six-hundred-pound male moose on Sept. 30, and set it free near Pockwock, Halifax Regional Municipality. It was last seen alive in that area Thursday, Oct. 23. The moose had been moved for the safety of the animal, drivers and local residents.

The meat of this moose contains residual tranquilizer drugs and is not considered safe to eat.

It has been illegal to hunt the endangered mainland moose since 1981. Poaching is a significant factor slowing the recovery of the mainland moose population.

Anyone with information to assist enforcement officers with the investigation is asked to call the toll-free report-a-poacher line at 1-800-565-2224 or send an e-mail to REPORTAPOACHER@gov.ns.ca .

More information about illegal hunting is available at, https://novascotia.ca/natr/enforcement/reportapoacher.asp .

• Mainland moose information
• Mainland moose Frequently Asked Questions
• Mainland moose sighting form

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