Loose moose in Newfoundland have a St. John’s lawyer calling for open season.

“We are hoping for a reduction of moose densities in the province for ecological reasons as well as human safety reasons,” said Ches Crosbie. “They’re eating us out of house and home, here.”

Crosbie has launched a lawsuit against the provincial attorney general, calling for a halving of the moose population and financial compensation for people who have been seriously injured in car accidents involving moose. So far, 40 people have signed on to the class action suit, he added.

The province is home to about 120,000 moose, according to the provincial government. For a population of about 509,700 people, that works out to one moose for every four Newfoundlanders. In Ontario, to contrast, there is about one moose for every 121 people.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Transportation website warns “Moose Are Unpredictable,” and urges drivers to pay special attention at night. A Canadian Geographic documentary refers to Newfoundland and Labrador’s moose population as “thousand-pound rabbits on stilts.” Moose have achieved the greatest population density anywhere on Earth in Newfoundland, according to “The Moose: Canada’s Most Dangerous Animal.”

When asked how Newfoundland and Labrador would go about killing off 60,000 moose, Crosbie replied it would be up to the government. “I’m not an expert,” he said.

In neighbouring New Brunswick, the government has set up 324 kilometres of fencing along highways. The $19 million investment began in 2007 and has already reduced the number of car-moose collisions, say police.

Crosbie said fences would be one option for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The government, however, said it is “confident in its moose management strategies.” The Department of Justice said this lawsuit may be the first ever against moose in the province.

“(The class action suit) will be handled no differently than any other lawsuit brought against the province,” Felix Collins, the provincial attorney general and justice minister, said in a statement.

Collisions with moose are often serious. Ben Bellows, 54, has been a quadriplegic since his accident seven years ago. The father of four from Corner Brook can no longer work, and is in constant pain.

“When you hit a moose, it’s like hitting a brick wall. It comes right in on you,” said Bellows, adding most of his neighbours are too scared to drive at night.

Newfoundland records about 700 accidents involving moose each year, said Bellows. Two people were killed in the same week he was paralyzed after hitting a moose near Clarenville.

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The lawsuit Bellows is part of has yet to be certified.

With files from Canadian Press.