Vermont wildlife officials said a moose drowned in Lake Champlain on Saturday, after people crowded around the animal in order to take its picture.

The state fish and wildlife officer Robert Currier told the local TV station WCAX the moose swam across the lake from New York state to South Hero, Vermont.

The animal made it on to land near a cycle path, he said, but was forced back into the water, probably feeling threatened by onlookers. The moose then succumbed to exhaustion and drowned.

Currier said people should keep their distance from moose encountered in the wild.

“Best practice is to stay away from it,” he said. “Keep your distance, don’t crowd the moose.

“If a moose feels threatened it’s going to respond by either leaving the area, or it’s going to respond with aggression and obviously we don’t want anyone to be a victim of the latter.”