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Viral Moose Chase Video Gets Snowboarder Fined

By Jenny Tsay, Esq. | Last updated on

A totally, like, righteous teenage snowboarder was fined $250 after a video of him chasing a moose was posted on the Internet.

Wildlife officials in Montana fined the snowboarder after the video of him chasing a moose down a snowy mountain went viral, reports United Press International. The snowboarders were hitting the powder at Whitefish Mountain Resort when they crossed paths with the animal.

While the teen thinks that chasing a moose while on a snowboard is "no big deal," the Flathead National Forest Service disagreed.

Is it Illegal to Chase Moose in Montana?

Although some may chalk up the snowboarder's moose chase video to a nature documentary, Montana wildlife officials see it as a crime. If you watch the video closely, you'll see that the moose starts off a good distance away from the boys. However, one of the boarders appears to speed up and catches up to the wild animal.

What's interesting is that the warden captain for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wasn't going to give the teen a citation because there's no statute in Montana prohibiting snowboarders from harassing wild animals. However, the Flathead National Forest officials were the ones to fine the boy. The fine could be based on laws that make it unlawful for snowmobilers to "chase, harass, herd, or rally wild animals."

The wild moose chase video isn't the first time people have gotten into legal trouble due to their show-off-y Internet videos. In Utah's Goblin Valley State Park, one man's "feat of strength" in pushing a boulder may have prompted focus on a possible fraudulent disability claim and criminal charges. Another Internet showboater decided to go on a "planking spree" and upload clips of him in action. Unfortunately for him, police use the Internet too and don't appreciate seeing some dude stretched out on their property without good reason.

So next time you're filming some rad tricks on your snowboard, don't let a real-life Bullwinkle co-star in the video.

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