A moose was rescued Tuesday after falling through ice in Manitoba's Nopiming Provincial Park. Russ Popp, a long-time resident, received a call about the distressed animal on Bird Lake. The moose had broken through the ice on the Bird River, prompting Popp and his wife to call local conservation officers.
Popp described the rescue as dangerous due to thin ice and strong currents. The moose was in the frigid water for an estimated four and a half hours, showing signs of extreme exhaustion. Hypothermia, fur loss, and stress were evident. Popp and two conservation officers, along with a fisheries employee, worked for hours to chop a path through approximately 100 meters of ice to guide the struggling animal to shore.
After finally reaching the shore, the moose had difficulty finding footing in the boggy riverbed. The rescue team adjusted their approach, successfully rolling the animal out of the water. The moose, after recovering, walked into the woods. Popp expressed profound satisfaction, noting the challenging year for the park's moose population following a devastating wildfire and other environmental pressures, making the rescue a significant achievement.