Two Valley residents fined for moose smuggling

Troopers reported the fines to the public this week, even though both took place more than a month ago.

Wasilla resident Waureen "Donnie" Darilek, 60, was fined $260 for trying to sneak two, orphaned baby moose from Anchorage to the Reindeer Farm in Palmer on June 4. Anchorage police caught up with her before she could get out of Anchorage, the two calves braying in the back of her pick-up. The one-time animal control officer in Mat-Su was reportedly trying to keep the calves from being killed by state Fish and Game officials, after their mother was killed on the Hillside.

Troopers said the full investigation into how Darilek got the calves is still ongoing and others who illegally kept the animals may also be fined.

Troopers also said this week that Farley Dean, 53, of Willow, illegally kept and cared for a baby moose at his home in mid-June. He took it to the Reindeer Farm, where Fish and Game officials retrieved it. He was also fined $260.

Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said she wasn't aware if the two "rescue operations" were related or if Darilek and Farley knew each other.

Fish and Game officials took all three baby moose to the Alaska Zoo. Zoo director Pat Lampi said the zoo has taken in eight moose calves lately. Two of them were transported to the Milwaukee Zoo but he didn't immediately know which ones they were. He is awaiting word from Fish and Game on what to do with the remaining six, which continue to be cared for by zoo staff.

Peters said the public must leave baby moose alone. Often, the animals don't need rescuing, the mother is nearby, she said. Other times, if the ungulates really are orphaned, it is best to let state game professionals deal with them.

"People get very upset over us killing a cute, defenseless moose calf," Peters said. "People assume we are going to kill them and that's not the case."

Gene Williams, co-owner of the Reindeer Farm in Palmer, said the public cannot just deliver moose to the farm to add to their menagerie, which includes three adult moose. The farm has to work closely with Fish and Game, she said.

"We can only take what Fish and Game tells us," Williams said.

Find Megan Holland online at adn.com/contact/mholland or call 257-4343.