Alaska state troopers and hero neighbors saved a female moose from the freezing cold waters of the Chena River after she fell through thawing ice on Easter Sunday.
Footage shows a group of six men tying a rope around the water-logged creature and pulling her to safety from the river, which flows west from the White Mountains to the Tanana River near the city of Fairbanks.
Although the moose appeared to be ‘tired and cold’, state troopers posted to Facebook that she made a full recovery and was able to stand on her own – albeit with huge chunks of ice on her nose.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game there is an estimated 16,000 moose in the region and the population objective, before hunting season, is 10,000 to 12,000 animals.
Alaskan state troopers and hero neighbors saved a female moose from the freezing cold waters of the Chena River after she fell through thawing ice on Easter Sunday
Gary Niese, who was among those rescuing the moose, told KTUU Alaska that he saw the moose ‘fighting for its life.’
‘He was clearly unable to get out of the hole and was fighting with all his effort,’ Niese said.
Realizing he needed to act, the courageous bystander rallied help from some neighbors nearby and called wildlife and state troopers to assist in the rescue mission.
A group of six men wrapped a rope around the moose’s front legs and pulled the creature from the icy river.
Footage of the rescue effort showed the men tugging at the rope while the creature struggled to get back on land.
Eventually the moose was recovered from the broken ice Fairbanks resident Eric Dillion, who also assisted, citing that it had been a ‘coordinated effort,’ he told the outlet.
‘With the coordinated efforts of all of us, we were able to pull the moose out,’ said Dillon.
‘It was a feat, but it was exhilarating, exciting and a nice outcome to an unfortunate situation.’
Alaska state troopers shared an update on Facebook saying: ‘Troopers in Fairbanks were notified that a moose had fallen through the ice on the Chena River and couldn’t get out.’
‘Troopers Chroniger, Lindblom, and Norris responded with Wildlife Trooper McDowell.
‘With the assistance of some local neighbors, Troopers were successful in rescuing the moose from the water and relocating it to the riverbank.
‘Although tired and cold, the moose was able to stand on its own and thankful for the assistance.
‘Troopers wished the moose a Happy Easter and warned her of the dangers of thawing river ice.’
This article by Aneeta Bhole was first published by The Daily Mail on 12 April 2023. Lead Image: Pictures of the moose show it covered in snow and ice after it emerged from the river.
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