Area's animal magnetism prompts a-moosing contest

Sandpoint Police Chief Mark Lockwood was not amoosed.

He had been receiving reports of moose abuse around his fair city.

In most incidents, the moose would vamoose when spotted. In one case, some youngsters were throwing and rolling rocks at one of the escapees from Northern Exposure.

Apparently they weren't old enough to know that rolling stones will gather no moose.

Chief Lockwood's plea for calm ran in the Daily Bee on Sunday. On Sunday night and on Monday, we were wondering if writing the story was a moostake.

We had so many people reading our story online, it nearly crashed the system.

Is it an amoosing coincidence that this moose story has long, awkward legs and has been picked up all over the world?

At last count, more than 700 newspapers and Web sites have run versions of this story. All of the stories now point to Sandpoint as the Moose Capital of the World.

The story has also been featured on the United Press International Web site, with the headline: "Idaho does not like moose molesters." Now, that would be something … but not for this family newspaper.

Even in Canada, where moose have to outnumber two-legged beings, the story was lead on Canada.com. The headline: "Idaho police urge residents and visitors to avoid chasing the moose."

"Bullwinkle is going to stomp someone," wrote another headline writer.

The headline on the Fox News Web site was interesting: "Sandpoint moose says he is father to Anna Nicole Smith's child." OK, it didn't say that, but it could have.

The story is in the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times and apparently every media outlet in between. It's in India, South Africa and Great Britain.

Our moose were also featured on the Bob and Tom Show, which is broadcast all over the country on radio and was heard in Stockton, Calif., on Wednesday morning.

We have received at least 100 moose photos from readers in the past two weeks and at least one call a day inviting us out to take our own photo. We take Chief Lockwood's advice and stay away from moose. I have heard of too many stories of people getting stomped to death or moose running head-on into an oncoming train.

On that happy note …

There's an opportunity here. This is the same town that gave the world Santapoint, Idaho-ho-ho and its second cousin Mardi Gras-ha-ha-ha. What should we do with this new-fangled fame?

It's a moosetry to me.

I learned along time ago that if I am left to my own devices about coming up with puns, I can be a mooserable failure. That's why I am inviting you to help me come up with a uniquely Sandpoint celebration that will capture this area's moose invasion.

It can be a song, but you can't use "A Moosing Grace," because I just did. It can be the name of a celebration, a poem or just an observation. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmoose from Santapoint, Idaho-ho-ho, might not be a bad idea, either.

Only one rule: It has to be fun.

Please drop your entries at the Bee by Monday at 5 p.m. You can also e-mail them to dkeyes@bonnercountydailybee.com. I will run as many entries as possible. The winner, if he or she is of age, will win a glass full of Moose Drool, direct from Mooseoula, Mont.

? David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee. This is his second column in two days.