A Chugiak man was cited for animal cruelty and unlawful discharge of his weapon after police say he shot a moose in the nose with a .44-caliber handgun while it stood in his backyard.

The moose did not die nor did it appear like it needed to be put down, said Rick Sinnott, area management biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Gary Lashbrook, 45, told police he shot the moose "because it looked sick and needed to be put out of its misery," Sgt. Denny Allen said.

Police responded to Lashbrook's home in the 20,000 block of Scenic Drive at about 1:45 p.m. after neighbors said they heard multiple gunshots then saw a moose running from Lashbrook's property.

Police tracked a blood trail to the injured animal and said the moose appeared to be fine.

Sinnott said a moose's nose is very bulbous with a lot of flesh.

"It sounded like it hadn't hit anything obviously critical," he said. "My guess is the moose is not badly hurt."

Reference:

Anchorage Daily News

The Alaska Star