Erik Thorén was on his way back from today’s hunting session when he spotted a stranded moose on the ice.
Then he decided to go out and help it ashore.
– It was a bit special, it’s not every day you get to pet a wild moose, he says.
17-year-old Erik Thorén is on Gräsö, outside Östhammar, to hunt during the weekend. It was on the way back from today’s hunting session that he and his father Esbjörn Thorén saw a moose stuck out on the ice.
– The dogs stuck out into the ground in the wrong direction, so we had to go out and get them. When we passed a small bay, we looked out over the ice and there is that rather helpless moose. We had to stop picking up the dogs, says Erik Thorén and explains that he went out on the ice to help the moose stand up.
– From a little experience, you know that it is incredibly difficult for them to try to climb up, but I thought that you can always make an attempt, he says.
“Positive reactions”
The rescue effort was filmed, and has been shared on social media.
Erik Thorén says that he received positive reactions afterwards.
– There have been very positive reactions. So far, everyone has been positive and said it was a good effort, so it’s been fun to read, he says.
“Incredibly awesome experience”
He says that he has never done anything like this, but that he has seen videos where people helped moose to get out of ice before. He tried to proceed in the same way, pushing the moose across the ice until it could stand up.
– I had to keep an eye on it so it wouldn’t hurt me. They don’t do anything out of anger, but out of fear. You want to show consideration for that and try to get it ashore safely without stressing it too much, he says.
He describes the event as an “incredibly cool experience”.
– It was a little special. It’s not every day you get to pet a wild moose. That everything went well was a positive end to the whole thing.