Alaska’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race took a dramatic turn for five-time champion Dallas Seavey when he was compelled to fatally shoot an “angry moose” that became entangled with his team of sled dogs, causing critical injuries to one dog. The incident transpired just before 2 a.m. Alaska time on Monday, approximately 14 miles from a race checkpoint in Skwentna, according to Iditarod race Marshal Warren Palfrey.
Race officials were alerted at 1:43 a.m. that Seavey, a veteran musher, had to dispatch the moose in self-defense after it became entangled with the dogs and the musher on the trail, as outlined in a statement by Palfrey.
Following the encounter, Seavey promptly informed Alaska State Troopers and the race marshal, adhering to the competition’s rules. Rule 34 of the Iditarod mandates that if an edible big game animal, such as a moose, is killed in defense of life or property, the musher must gut the animal and report the incident to a race official at the next checkpoint.
After shooting the moose and gutting it in accordance with the rule, Seavey continued with the 1,000-mile race. He stopped only to rest and feed his dogs at the Finger Lake checkpoint around 8 a.m., as confirmed by race officials.
Despite the challenging encounter, Seavey maintained his competitive spirit, dropping off his injured dog, named “Faloo,” at the Finger Lake checkpoint before continuing with the race. The injured dog was subsequently flown to Anchorage for treatment at a veterinary clinic.
“With help from snowmobile-aided support in the area, we are making sure that every attempt is made to utilize and salvage the moose meat,” stated Palfrey in an official statement.
On his Facebook page, Seavey shared details about Faloo’s condition, mentioning the critical nature of the injuries and the surgery undergone at the Anchorage Vet Clinic. Seavey expressed gratitude for the support and assured followers of regular updates on Faloo’s progress.
Despite the unexpected incident, Seavey, a last-time Iditarod champion in 2021, currently holds the sixth position on the race leaderboard as of Tuesday. The event continues to unfold, with the musher navigating both the challenges of the trail and the aftermath of the unique encounter with an “angry moose.”
