Tow Truck Owner Rescues Moose Trapped in Saskatchewan Lake Ice
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Clint Gottinger, owner of Rebel Towing, successfully rescued a young moose that had been trapped in a frozen lake near Kelvington, Saskatchewan, for hours. Using his tow truck and a winch, he freed the animal and transported it to his property to recover. The moose was back on its feet later that evening and left the property the following day.
Facts First
- A tow truck was used to rescue a moose trapped in the ice of a Saskatchewan lake.
- The animal had been stuck since morning before being rescued around 5:30 pm.
- The moose recovered on the rescuer's property and was back on its feet by 11 pm.
- The rescuer named the moose Rebel and spray-painted his company name on its side as a joke.
What Happened
On a Saturday around 5 pm, Clint Gottinger, owner of Rebel Towing, spotted a young moose frozen in the ice of a lake approximately half a mile from his house in Saskatchewan. Neighbors had reported seeing the moose stuck since approximately 8:45 am that morning. Gottinger used his tow truck to rescue the animal by backing the truck up, lowering the bed, and using a winch with a soft sling lassoed over the moose's backend. The moose was placed on the truck bed at 5:30 pm and transported to Gottinger's home in Kelvington.
Why this Matters to You
This story highlights how community members can use available resources to intervene in wildlife emergencies, which may help prevent animal suffering. For you, it's a reminder that stressful capture situations for wild animals can lead to serious health issues like capture myopathy, a state of overwhelming stress that can cause organ failure. Successful rescues like this one may encourage more people to report and assist animals in distress, potentially leading to better outcomes for local wildlife.
What's Next
The moose... is likely to return to its natural habitat after being back on its feet by 11 pm the night of the rescue. The playful act of naming the moose Rebel and spray-painting the company name on its side suggests the animal's condition had stabilized enough for the rescuer to feel confident in its recovery. Future similar incidents may benefit from the demonstrated technique of using specialized equipment to minimize stress during extraction.