News

Fire department call to assist a moose on ice

By Scott Wagar

11/25/2014

The Bottineau Fire Department was called to rescue a young male moose out on the ice at Carbury Dam on Sunday, Nov. 16, which was successful, but later ended in tragedy. 

The moose apparently went on the ice on Saturday but somehow fell and could not get up again. 

The Bottineau Fire Department was called to the scene on Sunday where Eric Nostdahl and Travis Hennings went out on the ice with their Gumby survival suits where they harnessed the moose and pulled the animal to the shore.

Once the moose was on land, he refused to get up. John Tofteland, game warden for North Dakota Game and Fish, checked on the moose and discovered that the animal thrashed around so much it had broken its antler off his head. However, the moose appeared healthy and moved, but seemed to be exhausted and couldn’t get up. 

It was decided to allow the moose to stay where the firemen left him to rest.

Tofteland checked on the moose the next day, but the animal’s condition had become so critical the animal had to be put down. 
In a post-mortem exam, it was discovered the moose had broken its back leg, which caused the exhaustion from the animal trying to get up on the ice and getting off, but failing to do so.