This past September, a huge animal was passing through a farmstead in Pembroke, Maine, when he mistakenly tumbled into a stone well in the ground. The animal’s fall caused quite a ruckus. Luckily, 15-year-old Cole Brown was nearby.
According to News Center Maine, Brown, whose family owns the land, was working on a project as part of his shed building business, when he heard the terrifying sound. He quickly alerted his family members, including his sister, Delaney Gardner. They approached the well and found the source of the commotion — there was an enormous moose trapped inside.
The Dodo
In need of expert help, the Good Samaritans called local wildlife authorities, who soon arrived at the property. Community members also raced to the scene, eager to provide any assistance they could.
A rescuer carefully climbed into the well and sedated the moose. Rescuers also tied a shirt around the moose’s eyes in order to keep him calm. Then, after a lot of trial and error, they managed to secure the moose in a harness and pull him up to solid ground using a combination of manpower and machinery.
The Dodo
“It was amazing to see the biologist and the game wardens and the community members all work together to come up with a game plan to get this moose out,” Gardner told News Center Maine. “It’s not exactly something that there’s a handbook on, so just seeing all the problem-solving skills in action was incredible.”
You can watch the whole rescue unfold in a video here:
Free from the well, the moose relaxed in the grass as the sedation wore off. Rescuers checked him for injuries and found that he was in good health.
The moose came to his senses and slowly stood up. He turned toward the wilderness and made his way back into the woods, perhaps feeling grateful for the helping hands.
The Dodo
“It ran off with a good stride, bearing weight on all its limbs,” state wildlife biologist Steve Dunham, who helped with the rescue, told News Center Maine. “Besides some bruises and maybe a little bit of a hangover, it should make a full recovery.”
