Momma moose frantically searches for calf that fell in river. See the ‘happy ending’
A woman excited for a peaceful camping trip in Colorado arrived to the distressing sight of a mother moose frantically searching the campground for her calf — which had fallen into the fast flowing river, video shows.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife shared Emily Ann’s video from the encounter on social media.
“Sharing this moose-tastic story,” the agency said.
Captions over the video describe how the woman went camping near Nederland, a mountain town on the Front Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains about a 45-mile drive northwest from Denver. The video shows the rapidly flowing river the calf had fallen into and then shows the mother moose trotting across the campground in a panic.
“Upon arrival, there was a momma moose running frantically around the campground,” the video says. “We were told that her baby had fallen in the river, which was extremely high from snowmelt…. Momma moose wandered aimlessly around the campground, while campers searched the river, hoping to find her baby alive.”
The momma moose roams near campsites searching for her baby, the video shows.
“Then, someone announced the baby had made it out of the river!” the video says. “We hid behind the bathrooms and watched their reunion.”
Video shows the momma moose slowly approach the calf as it takes a few small steps toward her. Then the mom reaches toward the baby with her muzzle as the baby shakes off water from the river.
“She was hesitant at first.. But then.. It was a happy ending for moose and baby!” the video says as the moose and her baby walk along a tree-lined hill together.
“We’re so happy this cow moose (female) was able to be reunited with her calf (young moose) and we’re even more happy that those who were onsite kept their distance and gave these moose their space!” Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in the caption.
“What a sweet ending,” someone wrote under the video on Instagram.
“‘I told you not to go by the creek! You’re not a good swimmer yet!’” someone wrote as if from the perspective of the momma moose.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, someone pointed out the speed of the river.
“I’m so glad baby moose made it back to mom moose. Looking at how fast that river was flowing, even a young calf must be quite strong and a good swimmer to get back up on the bank,” they said.
“Every parent and empathetic person can relate to her frantic search and fear,” someone else said. “Then the intense feeling of relief knowing her calf was safe.”
This story was originally published July 10, 2024 at 11:27 AM with the headline "Momma moose frantically searches for calf that fell in river. See the ‘happy ending’."
