
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 9, 1994                   TAG: 9401090062
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: PULLMAN, WASH.                                LENGTH: Short

`NORTHERN EXPOSURE' MOOSE, MORTY, 5, DIES

Morty, the moose that ambles through the opening credits of "Northern Exposure," died of an illness linked to a mineral deficiency.

The 1,000-pound moose, brought from Alaska as an orphan yearling five years ago, was a subject of behavior and nutrition studies headed by Charles Robbins, a Washington State University professor of natural resource sciences.

Researchers found that a cobalt and copper deficiency in the diets of Morty and Minnie, another research moose, led to their deaths, Robbins said Friday. The problem was discovered after Minnie's death more than a week ago, but by then it was too late to save Morty, who died Thursday, Robbins said.

- Associated Press

by CNB