PORTLAND – Police shot and killed a bull moose Sunday in shallow water near a popular jogging trail, enraging some members of a crowd of onlookers.

The moose, which weighed nearly 1,000 pounds, had been wading for hours in Back Cove, a mile-wide bay off the Atlantic Ocean in the heart of the city.

Portland police said they had no choice but to kill the moose, which had come within 100 feet of shore, because of the possibility it could charge the large crowd of people that had gathered.

Officials were being especially cautious because male moose can be unpredictable and aggressive during mating season, which is now under way. Last week in Newry, a bull moose charged a hunter and used his antlers to throw the man through the air.

Tranquilizing the moose was not an option because it would have drowned, authorities said.

But some onlookers said they were shocked when the officer aimed and fired, and the moose fell. Some yelled and swore at the officers.

“I don’t know how many people cursed me to hell,” said Sgt. Gary Hutcheson, who fired three shots from a 12-gauge shotgun.

Hutcheson said he hoped all morning that people would stay away from the moose so police could avoid killing it.

“We were trying to ignore it, and trying to get people to ignore it,” he said. “The problem is people think they’re cute and cuddly. But, in fact, they are very dangerous animals.”

Although some onlookers wished police had given some warning, officers said they tried to warn the crowd and move them back.

“We told people, ‘Folks, this is not going to be pretty,”‘ Officer Eric McCusker said. “‘Please don’t watch this.”‘

Ronnie Jordan, a Portland resident who turned his head away as the shots were fired, said, “I’m just appalled. It was not threatening the public.”

Betsy Pope, who lives nearby, said, “We were all taking pictures, saying, ‘Isn’t this exciting?’ and ‘Isn’t this fun?’ And then, boom. … My daughter was in tears.”

After the moose fell, it was dragged to shore and onto a flatbed tow truck. Police said it would be butchered.