Someone darted a cow moose in Anchorage. Biologists got it out while the calf waited patiently.

A cow moose with a dart in her side got help Monday in Anchorage from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

After receiving tips that a moose had been struck by darts, possibly from a blow gun, Fish and Game biologists found the animal near 12th Avenue and B Street downtown, Fish and Game spokesman Ken Marsh wrote in an email.

Karen Greenberg was among those who spotted the dart in the moose's shoulder and called Fish and Game.

The cow and her calf had been hanging out in the neighborhood for a few days, Greenberg said. She saw the dart after reading about it on a Facebook thread.

"I was horrified," Greenberg said. "I couldn't believe somebody would shoot a moose."

Witnesses described seeing two darts but biologists found only one in the animal, Marsh wrote.

A biologist tranquilized the moose and removed the dart.

"The moose did not experience any serious injuries and is expected to be fine," Marsh wrote.

A biologist also gave the moose antibiotics to prevent infection, according to Marsh.

While tranquilized, the cow lay on the sidewalk in front of Greenberg's house on 12th Avenue. The calf stood in an alleyway nearby. As the cow woke up, biologists gently encouraged the calf to walk in her direction, Greenberg said, and the two were reunited.

Greenberg said she was happy to see "how incredible kind and effective" the biologists were during the incident.

Blow darts aren't illegal for hunting but would be "impractical" for moose hunting, Marsh wrote. It is illegal to use poisons to tranquilize wildlife, but this dart was a solid metal wire "likely designed solely for 'target practice,' " Marsh wrote.

This kind of situation is unusual, Marsh wrote.

"It's relatively rare that we find ourselves needing to help out moose or other wildlife that have been intentionally injured by people," Marsh wrote.

He noted two exceptions in Anchorage in recent years — a moose killed illegally by men wielding knives, and a black bear killed with a spear at a homeless camp.

"Fortunately, these incidents are aberrations," Marsh wrote. Harassing wildlife is illegal and a report will be forwarded to Alaska Wildlife Troopers for investigation, Marsh wrote.

Marsh encouraged people to contact Fish and Game directly with wildlife-related incidents, by calling the Division of Wildlife Conservation (in Anchorage, 907-267-2257) and leaving a message. People can also leave a message on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Facebook page or contact their nearest Alaska Wildlife Troopers post.