- Wasatch County authorities say the elk jumped into the chopper’s tail rotor in the mountains of eastern Utah
- The two people on board weren’t seriously hurt, but wildlife officials say the elk died of its injuries
- Mark Hadley with the state Division of Wildlife Resources says the state helicopters are frequently used to monitor remote wildlife
Authorities say a leaping elk brought down a research helicopter trying to capture the animal in the mountains of eastern Utah.
Wasatch County authorities say the elk jumped into the chopper’s tail rotor as it flew about 10 feet (3 meters) above ground, trying to capture the animal with a net.
The two people on board weren’t seriously hurt, but wildlife officials say the elk died of its injuries.
Wasatch County authorities say the elk jumped into the chopper’s tail rotor in the mountains of eastern Utah
The two people on board weren’t seriously hurt, but wildlife officials say the elk died of its injuries
The state-contracted Texas-based crew was trying to capture and sedate the elk so they could give it a tracking collar and research its movements about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Salt Lake City.
Mark Hadley with the state Division of Wildlife Resources says the state helicopters are frequently used to monitor remote wildlife and this is the first such accident in Utah.
The two men – from Australia – had been contracted by the DWR, according to reporting from KUTV.
Their identities have not been released.
Mark Hadley with the state Division of Wildlife Resources says the state helicopters are frequently used to monitor remote wildlife (stock)
The two men – from Australia – had been contracted by the DWR to conduct the sedation
The elk was to be studied by a biologist and the two men were supposed to sedate it and fly it back so that a collar could be placed on it.
But the cow elk, instead, hit the tail rotor after jumping.
A review of the incident is underway.