A group of snowmobilers pulled out their shovels to free a stuck moose after spotting its head poking out of freshly fallen snow in western Newfoundland.
Jonathan Anstey, who owns a snowmobile riding clinic, said he and about seven other riders set out on the trails near Deer Lake, N.L., on Saturday, when for the first time in two weeks, the terrain was blanketed in a thick layer powder.
As they veered off the main road, the group spotted a moose neck-deep amid the white expanse, buried in what Anstey estimated to be six feet, or 1.8 metres, of snow.
B次元官网网址淲e knew the moose was stuck really good,B次元官网网址� he said in an interview on Wednesday. B次元官网网址滺e tried several times to get himself out of the hole, but he wasnB次元官网网址檛 getting anywhere.B次元官网网址�
Anstey said the moose appeared to have gotten stuck in a bog hole and was trying to climb out, but its hind legs seemed to be firmly planted in the snow.
B次元官网网址淲hen a moose gets distressed, they pin their ears back, their hair stands up on their back, and they lick their lips a lot,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou could tell he was extremely distressed.B次元官网网址�
He said some members of his group grabbed shovels and walked around to the rear of the moose, where they figured they would be safe from the animalB次元官网网址檚 thrashing.
B次元官网网址淎fter he realized he wasnB次元官网网址檛 moving, he just kind of stopped and lay down,B次元官网网址� said Anstey.
After a few minutes of digging, Anstey said they had carved out a path behind the moose, and one of the snowmobilers rode up to the animal to coax it to turn around.
B次元官网网址淭he moose actually realized it had footing on solid ground and managed to pull himself out of the hole,B次元官网网址� he said.
The liberated moose hung around for a bit to dry off, Anstey said, occasionally looking at its rescuers as if to say B次元官网网址漚 little thank youB次元官网网址� before trotting away.
Anstey said it isnB次元官网网址檛 uncommon for people to come across moose in sticky situations while exploring NewfoundlandB次元官网网址檚 back-country, but he would advise them to contact provincial officials rather than taking matters into their own hands.
B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 recommend rescuing it even though we did, because weB次元官网网址檙e experienced outdoorsmen,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 really want to get close to a big animal like that as they can charge or do a lot of damage.B次元官网网址�
Even though this is his second moose rescue, Anstey said he tries not intervene in animal affairs.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to be known as a back-country riding clinic and not a moose rescuer,B次元官网网址� said Anstey. B次元官网网址漌e do what we need to do to help the wild as much as possible and give them their space.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Press
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