A group of snowmobilers pulled out their shovels to free a stuck moose after spotting its head poking out of freshly fallen snow in western Newfoundland.

Jonathan Anstey, who owns a snowmobile riding clinic, said he and about seven other riders set out on the trails near Deer Lake, N.L., on Saturday, when for the first time in two weeks, the terrain was blanketed in a thick layer powder.

As they veered off the main road, the group spotted a moose neck-deep amid the white expanse, buried in what Anstey estimated to be six feet, or 1.8 metres, of snow.

sa国际传媒淲e knew the moose was stuck really good,sa国际传媒� he said in an interview on Wednesday. sa国际传媒滺e tried several times to get himself out of the hole, but he wasnsa国际传媒檛 getting anywhere.sa国际传媒�

Anstey said the moose appeared to have gotten stuck in a bog hole and was trying to climb out, but its hind legs seemed to be firmly planted in the snow.

sa国际传媒淲hen a moose gets distressed, they pin their ears back, their hair stands up on their back, and they lick their lips a lot,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淵ou could tell he was extremely distressed.sa国际传媒�

He said some members of his group grabbed shovels and walked around to the rear of the moose, where they figured they would be safe from the animalsa国际传媒檚 thrashing.

sa国际传媒淎fter he realized he wasnsa国际传媒檛 moving, he just kind of stopped and lay down,sa国际传媒� said Anstey.

After a few minutes of digging, Anstey said they had carved out a path behind the moose, and one of the snowmobilers rode up to the animal to coax it to turn around.

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sa国际传媒淭he moose actually realized it had footing on solid ground and managed to pull himself out of the hole,sa国际传媒� he said.

The liberated moose hung around for a bit to dry off, Anstey said, occasionally looking at its rescuers as if to say sa国际传媒漚 little thank yousa国际传媒� before trotting away.

Anstey said it isnsa国际传媒檛 uncommon for people to come across moose in sticky situations while exploring Newfoundlandsa国际传媒檚 back-country, but he would advise them to contact provincial officials rather than taking matters into their own hands.

sa国际传媒淚 wouldnsa国际传媒檛 recommend rescuing it even though we did, because wesa国际传媒檙e experienced outdoorsmen,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淵ou donsa国际传媒檛 really want to get close to a big animal like that as they can charge or do a lot of damage.sa国际传媒�

Even though this is his second moose rescue, Anstey said he tries not intervene in animal affairs.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檇 like to be known as a back-country riding clinic and not a moose rescuer,sa国际传媒� said Anstey. sa国际传媒漌e do what we need to do to help the wild as much as possible and give them their space.sa国际传媒�

The Canadian Press

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