Quantcast
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 292

FWP game wardens, locals rescue calf moose from barbed wire fence

A Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ game warden’s job description is not cut and dry. For instance, last week, Madison Valley game warden Shane Brozovich and Ruby Valley game warden Ryan Picken were hard at work in Sheridan, rescuing a calf moose from a barbed wire fence.

“We have no idea how long the calf moose was stuck there,” Brozovich said. “All four legs were caught up in barbed wire.”

Late afternoon on Tuesday, Sept. 8, Frank Higgins and his wife, Janet, were walking their land outside of Sheridan, heading to a pond to work out their dog. First, they saw a cow moose, then Janet turned to Frank and said, “Look! There’s her calf caught in a fence.”

At first, Frank thought he could cut the calf loose with his leatherman, but he quickly noticed the wire was heavy and would require bolt cutters. Not to mention, the cow moose was hanging around, reluctant to leave her calf.

Frank made a few phone calls, including one to former Ruby Valley FWP game warden Jim Deboar. Eventually, he called the FWP hotline – 1-800-TIP-MONT and the dispatcher contacted Brozovich.

“(Picken) is still training and he was in the Upper Ruby with a game warden out of Dillon, Rick Schmauch,” Brozovich said. “Dispatch called me and I headed over the hill.”

Picken and Schmauch were leaving the Upper Ruby and met up with Brozovich in Alder, and the three made their way to Sheridan. By that time, Deboar had returned Frank’s call, and joined the three wardens in rescuing the calf.

Brozovich said they were able to maneuver their trucks between the cow and her trapped calf.

“(Deboar) cut it loose,” Brozovich said. “Then it just laid there. It was so worn out from being stuck.”

Fortunately, Brozovich had water in his truck, and the wardens cooled the calf to calm its labored breathing.

“They just poured water on it and rubbed it in its hair and armpits and everything,” Frank said. “(The cow moose) stayed about 60 or 80 yards away and let us do our thing.”

Brozovich said it took about a half hour for the calf to get to its feet and walk away with its mother. Almost instantly, the animals went into the nearby Ruby River, which Brozovich said is exactly what he hoped they would do.

“My only worry about the calf would be infection,” he said. “But it was good they went right in the river – it’s good it got washed out.”

Brozovich said the Higgins did the right thing in calling 1-800-TIP-MONT.

“We definitely want people calling us,” he said.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 292

Trending Articles