I guess even the most normal of winter days can go awry, when you’re a moose not used to thin ice.

In the Adirondack Mountains, a passerby near Lake Abanakee stumbled upon an extraordinary sight: a massive bull moose floundering in icy water, unable to escape. What followed was a dramatic two-hour rescue effort by New York State conservation officials that showcased ingenuity, determination, and a dash of improvisation.

The moose, weighing nearly 1,000 pounds, had wandered about 200 feet from shore onto the partially frozen lake before breaking through the thin ice. Stranded in the frigid water with just its head visible above the surface, the moose faced life-threatening conditions. A quick-thinking bystander alerted authorities, prompting Lt. Robert Higgins of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to spring into action.

Forest rangers corralled the moose using sleds, encouraging the 1,000-pound beast to swim to higher ground. Photo by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

There’s no training manual for getting moose out of the ice,” Higgins said.

Higgins called for reinforcements, and soon, two forest rangers, Evan Nahor and Matt Savarie, arrived to help. While moose face many challenges because of human activities — like habitat loss and climate-induced tick infestations — this time, humans were there to help. Knowing that outside resources were likely too far away to help them save the moose, the trio had to get a bit creative.

Equipped with dry suits to stay warm and buoyant, the team cautiously navigated the fragile ice to test its thickness, which varied from one to four inches. They carried safety ropes in case anyone fell through. The plan? Use a chainsaw to carve a channel through the ice, creating a path for the moose to swim toward thicker ice and, eventually, safety.

We were able to use our ice rescue training to safely get out there,” Nahor said.

Cutting through the ice was grueling work, especially with the clock ticking. “Time wasn’t on our side,” Nahor said, emphasizing that every moment spent in the icy water increased the risk of hypothermia for the moose. Higgins pushed the ice blocks under the channel to clear the path while the team strategized how to guide the moose toward safety.

The moose appeared tired and shaking after the rescue, but was able to stand and walk away eventually. AP Photo

Initially, the moose resisted their efforts. Attempts to prod it gently didn’t work, and the animal seemed indifferent to their presence — until the sleds came out. “For whatever reason, it was scared of those. So once we got behind it, we were able to direct it,” Savarie said.

The tactic worked. The moose swam along the channel and hoisted itself onto solid ice. Exhausted from treading water for two hours, the animal lay shivering on the frozen ground. “It was really tired. It didn’t have much energy left,” Higgins said.

For 15 tense minutes, the team watched, uncertain if the moose could recover. Then, as if defying the odds, the giant animal stood up and slowly made its way back into the forest. “It was just an amazing sight to see that huge moose stand up right in front of us,” Higgins said. “It was great.”

Sources: NY Post | Washington Post