On May 26, a young moose was found outside the home of Kathleen and Leonard Tucker stranded in a large snow bank in Ship Cove, Newfoundland.
First thinking the calf was dead, it wasn’t until it began moving its legs that the problem became evident: it was wedged in a large snowdrift, unable to find a stable surface to boost itself out. The couple enlisted the help of a neighbour to dig the animal out. Using shovels and a piece of wood, the pair were able to pry the moose out of the loose snow, where it hesitated before taking off.
Without help from this couple, the young moose would have been at risk from predators or starvation.
Spring is the time when young moose are left to fend for themselves. After a year forming a close bond between mother and child—baby moose are completely dependant on their mothers—the calves are driven away when she is set to give birth again. This process can be quite aggressive, with the cow charging and even kicking her young. Often, the yearling will disappear, only to return and repeat the process.
This moose, obviously very young and separated from it’s mother, must learn to survive on it’s own. Thankfully, having survived the most precarious time—the first year—it’s chances are much higher.