TUPPER LAKE — The bull moose that had been blocking Goodman Mountain has been “humanely euthanized,” according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

This follows two months of trail closure as the moose remained entrenched near the mountain’s summit area. The moose was emaciated and showed advanced signs of disease, according to the DEC.

The DEC stated that euthanasia was used as a last resort, and only advanced when the animal is suffering or presents an immediate public health or safety risk. In this case, the moose had been under regular evaluation for two months from wildlife officials, who said its deterioration was evident.

“Following a thorough assessment, DEC experts made the difficult decision to euthanize the moose due to its deteriorating condition and low likelihood of survival. DEC’s priority is always the well-being of wildlife and public safety,” DEC Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife Jacqueline Lendrum said in the statement. “While we never take such actions lightly, humane euthanasia is sometimes the most responsible course of action. In addition, information gathered from this animal will help DEC better understand and manage moose in New York.”

Cornell Veterinary Medicine Professor Jennifer Bloodgood, who specializes in public and ecosystem health, stated that the moose’s health “had clearly deteriorated over time.”

“Performing a necropsy will help us to understand the cause of the decline and give us more information on threats to moose health in New York State,” she said.

The Goodman Mountain hiking trail remains closed to the public — with DEC forest rangers patrolling the parking lot area that saw concrete barriers used to prevent the public from entering — as the DEC completes its study on the moose’s area there. The agency said it was gathering information on the moose’s foraging behavior and habitat range.

“Once DEC’s work is completed, the barriers will be removed and the trail reopened,” the agency stated. “DEC will update the public when the area is clear and the trail is open for public access.”

The ongoing field work is one component of what happened to the bull moose, which was estimated to be about 4 years old. The DEC said it will also conduct a post-mortem necropsy to better understand why the moose’s health failed and led to its unusual behavior of remaining more or less stationary for so long. The DEC added that it would share that information as it becomes available.

A popular destination

Goodman’s trail is a 3.2-mile out-and-back route that climbs 600 feet to a summit offering nearly 180-degree views to the west. The mountain is named in honor of Andrew Goodman, a civil rights activist who was murdered by white supremacists in Mississippi while he was participating in the Freedom Summer of 1964, along with James Chaney and Michael Schwerner.

Goodman had ties to Tupper Lake. His family, who were from New York City, would come to the area each summer to vacation. The mountain was renamed in his honor in 2002. Signs at the trailhead offer more information on Goodman’s legacy.

The mountain is a popular hiking destination and is part of the “Tupper Lake Hiking Triad,” a challenge maintained by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, which is based in Lake Placid and operates offices in Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake and Crown Point.

Hikers can document their climbs and receive a patch and sticker upon completion. The other two peaks — which are both around 2 miles round-trip — are Mount Arab, in the adjacent town of Piercefield, and Coney Mountain, located about 1 mile south of Goodman Mountain.

Michelle Clement serves as ROOST’s Director of Marketing. She said the news about the moose was met with mixed emotions in the office.

“Seeing those barricades removed will be welcomed while also sad knowing the outcome of the bull moose that was there,” she said.

During the trail closure, Clement said ROOST had received numerous calls from families asking if the challenge could be completed with the closure. ROOST contemplated creating an alternative mountain to reignite the challenge, but nothing had come to fruition by the time the trail reopened. ROOST had suggested alternative regional hiking or paddling challenges, but emphasized to families that the mountain should not be approached under any circumstances during its closure.

While patches and stickers can be mailed, Clement said families frequently came into the Tupper Lake office to pick those up in person. She said ROOST has missed seeing the families come in, hearing their hiking stories and awarding the patches.

“It’s nice to see that, especially as we go toward Labor Day weekend and fall to have Goodman Mountain reopened because it’s definitely been missed this season,” she said.