A car struck a moose on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in North Haven on Wednesday morning and the moose has died.
State Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection officials said the moose was hit on the northbound side of the highway near exit 63 around 7 a.m.
The moose has died. It's unclear if the moose died from the impact of the collision or if it had to be put down.
The Department of Transportation has removed the moose from the scene and DEEP's wildlife division is examining the animal.
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DEEP says this moose is likely the one that was reported in the Watertown and Waterbury area recently. Officials said the last reports had it moving in a direction that could place it at this location.
The driver who was involved in the crash remained at the scene, but was then able to drive off in the car under its own power.
No injuries were reported.
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Connecticut's moose population is small and includes about 100 animals, but DEEP says they can pose a serious threat to public safety if they wanter onto the road.
According to DEEP, during this time of year, young moose may be dispersing long distances in search of new areas to occupy and that makes them more of a public safety concern.
Drivers are urged to be aware to slow down and drive defensively if a large animal is spotted or is by the road. Data collected from other states shows that a collision involving a car and a moose is 13 times more likely to result in a human fatality than a collision involving a car and a deer.
Any collisions with vehicles and moose, deer or bears should be reported to local, state or DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Officers.
