A moose found its way to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in October 2014. The state Department of Natural Resources believes this animal might have come from Minnesota or Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Photo by WI DNR
The Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians adopted a resolution on Monday to address the "senseless" killing of a moose on the Wisconsin reservation. The resolution establishes an emergency rule that prohibits the killing, harassment or transport of moose and other endangered or threatened species. Violators face fines of up to $500, the highest civil penalty in the tribe's conservation code. "The tribal council appreciates the membership's input, and worked swiftly to address this incident," the tribe said in a press release. "Tribal members expressed a desire to protect rare and threatened animals, ensuring future generations will not be deprived of opportunities to observe and enjoy their presence." The incident in question took place in the early morning hours on July 6. Word traveled quickly on the reservation and on social media after tribal members were seen in photos with a dead juvenile moose. The shooting, however, was not illegal under tribal law at the time. And since it occurred within the boundaries of Indian Country, state authorities lacked jurisdiction. Commentary on the shooting was heated among tribal members and those living in the area. Most condemned the death of the moose, a species that is rarely seen in Wisconsin. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, some animals occasionally wander from Minnesota or Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an area near the Lac du Flambeau Reservation. Their numbers appear to be increasing, according to the department.
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