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.

害羞草研究所淲e knew the moose was stuck really good,害羞草研究所� he said in an interview on Wednesday. 害羞草研究所滺e tried several times to get himself out of the hole, but he wasn害羞草研究所檛 getting anywhere.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲hen a moose gets distressed, they pin their ears back, their hair stands up on their back, and they lick their lips a lot,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淵ou could tell he was extremely distressed.害羞草研究所�

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 animal害羞草研究所檚 thrashing.

害羞草研究所淎fter he realized he wasn害羞草研究所檛 moving, he just kind of stopped and lay down,害羞草研究所� 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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害羞草研究所淭he moose actually realized it had footing on solid ground and managed to pull himself out of the hole,害羞草研究所� he said.

The liberated moose hung around for a bit to dry off, Anstey said, occasionally looking at its rescuers as if to say 害羞草研究所漚 little thank you害羞草研究所� before trotting away.

Anstey said it isn害羞草研究所檛 uncommon for people to come across moose in sticky situations while exploring Newfoundland害羞草研究所檚 back-country, but he would advise them to contact provincial officials rather than taking matters into their own hands.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 recommend rescuing it even though we did, because we害羞草研究所檙e experienced outdoorsmen,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 really want to get close to a big animal like that as they can charge or do a lot of damage.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 like to be known as a back-country riding clinic and not a moose rescuer,害羞草研究所� said Anstey. 害羞草研究所漌e do what we need to do to help the wild as much as possible and give them their space.害羞草研究所�

The Canadian Press

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