Dramatic moment female MOOSE is winched out of a frozen Alaskan lake on Easter Sunday
She’s risen! Dramatic moment when a female MOOSE is pulled from a frozen lake in Alaska on Easter Sunday
- Alaska State Troopers rescued a moose from the freezing Chena River with the help of some local neighbors
- Footage from the incident shows the group of six men throwing a rope around the moose and rescuing her from the broken ice
- Although “tired and cold” troopers said in a Facebook post that the moose made a full recovery from the ordeal and was able to stand unassisted
Alaska State Troopers and heroic neighbors rescued a female moose from the icy 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-trapped creature and carrying her to safety from the river, which flows west from the White Mountains to the Tanana River near the town of Fairbanks.
Although the moose appeared to be “tired and cold,” state police posted on Facebook that she had 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 are an estimated 16,000 moose in the region and the population target, before hunting season, is 10,000 to 12,000 animals.
State troopers and heroic neighbors from Alaska rescued a female moose from the icy waters of the Chena River after she fell through thawing ice on Easter Sunday
Photos of the moose show it was covered in snow and ice after emerging from the river
Gary Niese, who was one of those who rescued the moose, shared it KTUU Alaska that he saw the moose “fighting for his life.”
“He was clearly unable to get out of the hole and fought with all his might,” said Niese.
Realizing he had to take action, the courageous bystander enlisted the help of some nearby neighbors and enlisted 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 out of the icy river.
Footage from the rescue showed the men pulling the rope as the creature struggled to make it back ashore.
Eventually, the moose was recovered from the broken ice, Fairbanks resident Eric Dillion, who also assisted, citing it had been a “coordinated effort,” he told the outlet.
“With the concerted efforts of all of us, we were able to pull the moose out,” Dillon said.
“It was an achievement, but it was exhilarating, exhilarating and a nice outcome of an unfortunate situation.”
Footage from the scene showed the elk struggling in the broken section of the icy river to get out
Although the moose appeared to be “tired and cold,” state troopers posted on Facebook that she had made a full recovery and was able to stand on her own two feet
The “coordinated effort” helped save the moose. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there are an estimated 16,000 moose in the region
Alaska state troopers shared an update on Facebook saying, “Troopers in Fairbanks received word that a moose fell through the ice on the Chena River and couldn’t get out.”
Troopers Chroniger, Lindblom and Norris responded with Wildlife Trooper McDowell.
With the help of some local neighbors, Troopers managed to rescue the moose from the water and move it to the riverbank.
Although tired and cold, the moose was able to stand on its own and was grateful for the help.
“Troopers wished the moose a happy Easter and warned her of the dangers of thawing river ice.”