Family helps free baby moose found covered in mud

Videos uploaded to Facebook on May 19 show a baby moose covered in mud in Grande Prairie, Alta.

During a telephone interview with Global News, Alberta resident Ryan Savidan said his family went on a boating trip to Wapiti River when he heard a “mewing” sound.

“It was a moose, I was surprised,” said Savidan. “It was completely up to its chest just covered in mud, its eyes were caked in mud… around [the moose] were some bird droppings, so it had been there for a while.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It was a moose, I was surprised," said Savidan. "It was completely up to its chest just covered in mud, its eyes were caked in mud… around [the moose] were some bird droppings, so it had been there for a while."

Savidan added that it didn’t take a lot of time for him and family members to help the stuck moose.

READ MORE: Moose on the loose caught in Saskatoon

Savidan also said the moose collapsed once it was placed on the ground. The men, including Savidan, Mark Kluyt and Kane Savidan, then decided to carry the moose over to the river to wash the mud off of it.

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“After we washed the moose off and it was standing, we asked each other, ‘What do we do?'” said Savidan.

It’s unclear how long the moose had been stuck, but the Good Samaritans called the province’s wildlife officials, who advised them to leave the calf alone.

Savidan said they returned to the spot a few hours later to see if the moose was still there, but it wasn’t.

READ MORE: Collision between vehicle, moose sends one man to New Brunswick hospital

Brendan Cox, spokesperson for Alberta’s Fish and Wildlife enforcement branch, told Global News that he’s not sure which official the family spoke to regarding the stuck moose, but the branch is glad it was a happy ending for all.

“We are happy that the moose calf was freed from the mud, but we encourage people to call officials first before doing a rescue like that,” said Cox during a telephone interview. “The mother moose could still be nearby and be very defensive of their calf.”

Cox suggested for anyone in a similar situation to call the Alberta poacher hotline or wildlife officials who are trained for situations like this.

All-in-all, Savidan called the situation “very surreal.”

“I see moose from a distance… but to hold it and pick it up, it felt like picking up a dog.”