Moose Hit by Car Will Be Fed to Hudson Valley Homeless

A moose that was hit by a car on Route 9 will be fed to needy families in Dutchess County.

The moose was struck by a hit-and-run driver over the weekend and was so badly injured that State Police had to put it down. The large animal was discovered on the side of the road in Cortland on Saturday. It's believed that the moose is the same animal that has been spotted around the lower Hudson Valley since the beginning of the summer.

The Daily Voice now reports that the moose will be fed to needy families in Dutchess County. After being brought to the DEC’s Wildife Pathology lab for testing, the animal was released to a group called Hunters Helping the Hungry. The organization takes donations of meat and distributes it for use by charitable or not-for-profit organizations for those in need.

A zoo in Rochester was in the news back in 2014 after it was revealed that they were feeding lions roadkill. Dead deer found on the side of the road were sent to the zoo so lions could feast on them instead of having the meat go to waste.

While the website for Hunters Helping the Hungry solicits donations of hunted animals, it's not clear if the use of roadkill is a common practice or not.