The sling is then hooked to a cable, which is hooked to the bottom of the helicopter, and flown to a processing area. Once there, the moose is tagged, fitted with a radio collar, carried to a horse trailer and untied.

Each trailer held two moose. Once loaded, the truck with trailer in tow left for Colorado. Each section of the trailer held water and feed for the animals.

These were not the first moose Utah has sent to Colorado.

Because of the overpopulation in the unit, wildlife managers have had a problem with moose venturing into residential communities.

"We've had to remove and relocate a lot of moose from the town of Huntsville. We've also had moose in towns along the Wasatch Front, from Brigham City to Ogden. Two years ago we had to take out 50 moose. This year we took the problem moose to Colorado. They are a big animals and there's a safety factor involved in having such a big animal roaming in back yards," said Dolling.

Colorado officials have been looking at the Grand Mesa moose transplant for four years. Last year, three moose were captured in Colorado and released on the mesa.

"Now, thanks to Utah, we have 22 moose. With this project we have the potential of doubling that number," said Hampton.

Most of the problem moose taken from Utah to Colorado were bulls, therefore the objective of this capture was to increase the female population.

Once established, the mesa unit would give Colorado three herds — the North Park herd, which was the first and was established in the late 1960s, the Creed unit and Grand Mesa.

Like Colorado, Utah lost its population of moose. The first recorded sighting was said to be in 1906 or 1907. The next sighting was not until 1918. It was not until 1947 that it was determined Utah held a year-round herd in the Uinta Mountains.

Through in-state transplant programs and moose brought in from other states, Utah now holds a large population of the long-legged animals.

"Statewide, we have about 4,100 moose, which is very close to our management objective," explained Dolling. "Some units, of course, are under our objective and some, like this unit, are over.

"The moose do well here because it has such great habitat. Also, most of this area is private land and, therefore, access is difficult."

Colorado is not the only state Utah has worked with in the exchange of animals. It has worked with several neighboring states to build in areas where populations are low in exchange for animals from overpopulated areas.

As one officer explained, "Its a win-win for everyone . . . the states and the animals."

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