The recent loose moose damaging cars incident and the state's reaction to claims for damages by the vehicle owners raises some questions.

While there may be no statute covering this issue as the state contends, I have questions about the liability since the state does claim ownership of wildlife. Or more specifically protected wildlife which a moose is as a game animal. If you poach a game animal, hit one with your car, harass them or otherwise interfere with them, the state will be more than happy to bill you for that animal or problem you created. They even have dollar values assigned to each species.

Now if you experience damage to personal property or injury due to someone's animal be it a dog, horse, cow or whatever, the animal's owner is responsible. Hit a horse on the highway? Guess who pays? The horse owner. Hit a deer on the highway, guess who pays? You. Not only will you have to fix your car, but the state may send you a bill for the deer.

The moose is claimed by the state as its property, the damage is the result of that animal plus actions of state employees. Seems pretty clear cut to me even if it's just a moral issue rather than a legal one.

Kudos to Dave Adams for stepping up to help out the car owners, but it ought to be the state.

•Gary Zabriskie, Pleasant Grove