It was a Sunday morning when Andrea Bock drove through Clam Gluch, Alaska. Suddenly the traffic stopped.A mother moose and her calf tried to cross the highway. Unfortunately the exhausted calf struggled to get over the barrier. The mother moose became increasingly agitated while being separated from her calf. The traffic on the busy road intensified.
Bock observed that the calf tried to find the end of the guardrail for about 20 minutes. She reported: ,,The calf would get close to the end of the guardrail but every time the mother would bring him back to the center further away from the end. I think the reason the mother kept bringing him back to the center was because it was the section where there were no cars.’’
Joe Tate was also stuck in traffic. He was on his way home from a fishing trip with friends. From his car he could tell that the drama was developing. He suddenly made the decision to take action and reunite the family.
Bock was fascinated from what she became to see.
She said: ,,Nearly 30 minutes after frantic pacing back and forth and the line of traffic kept growing a gentleman from the northbound lane of traffic went to the calf to give her some help. He waited for the perfect moment in time when the mom was on the other side of the highway. Traffic blocked her view as he quickly grabbed the calf and placed him over the guardrail with his mother.’’ A stressed moose can be very dangerous to humans. Especially if it has young with it. When a mother moose feels threatened she may attack, trample or kick to protect her cubs. It’s best to keep a safe distance. Of course it’s never a good idea to bump into wild animals but in this situation it was necessary to act quickly.
Tate and his friends conceived a plan to divert the mom by driving a trailer in front of her. Bock reported: ,,At the time I didn’t know the friends had devised a plan to block the view of the mother so I was nervous for the guy. I thought he was just hoping the mom would stay out of sight long enough for him to grab her baby.’’
The little calf showed gratitude when she received the help from Tate. Bock even said: ,,The calf looked so tired he practically walked into his arms.’’ Tate told KTUU: ,,It could have gone bad and I understand and know that. Thankfully it did go for the best and it was worth the risk that I took.’’ Because of Tate the calf could return to his mother and the little family crossed the road safely.