Race Officials were notified at 1:43 a.m. that Veteran Musher Dallas Seavey (bib #7) was forced to dispatch a moose in self defense after the moose became entangled with the dogs and the musher on the trail.  Seavey and his team were 14 miles outside of the Skwentna checkpoint on their way to the Finger Lake checkpoint.

Seavey continued on the trail, stopped to rest and feed his dogs and pulled into the Finger Lake checkpoint at 8:00 a.m. AKST.  The Alaska State Troopers were immediately notified by Race Marshal Warren Palfrey.  Seavey dropped one dog at the Finger Lake checkpoint who was injured during the moose encounter. The dog was immediately flown from Finger Lake to Anchorage and is currently being evaluated by veterinarians in Anchorage.

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.  I will continue to gather information in this incident as it pertains to Rule 34,” says Race Marshal Warren Palfrey.