Troy

Authorities chased a bull moose across two counties and the Hudson River over nearly nine hours Monday before cornering it in a North Central backyard.

The year-old male was tranquilized and moved to the Cherry Plain area of the Rensselaer Plateau.

"It's likely that's where he came from," said Michael Clark, a wildlife biologist for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The limp 600-pound animal was placed in a small trailer for the trip the county's eastern edge.

"He looks small when he is lying down, but he was a big fella walking around," said Troy Police Capt. Daniel DeWolf.

Clark's day started with a 2 a.m. call that a moose was on the loose in downtown Troy.

It was first spotted in the vicinity of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and the Green Island Bridge.

The animal then swam across the Hudson and roamed the streets of Green Island for a couple of hours, eluding an army of local police, animal control and DEC officers.

Around 9 a.m., the moose caused some concerns as it crossed Interstate 787 during the morning rush.

"We boxed it in with our vehicles and got it to leave the road," Clark said.

The moose then swam back across the Hudson and wandered through North Troy for a while until it was cornered in the back yard of 65 Middleburgh St. near Ninth Street. There it was shot twice with a tranquilizer gun.

Officials used a small, wheeled trolley to pull the animal down a narrow alley and into the trailer, where they surrounded it with ice.

"He is really scared and stressed, and you have to keep them cool so they remain in good health," Clark said. "This had a good ending."

One toddler stared in wonder at the animal as the trailer was sealed for the ride.

"I hope he wakes up, Mommy," he said as he and his family walked back home.

bgardinier@timesunion.com • 518-454-5696 • @BobGardinier