Another moose rescued after falling through ice in northern Ontario

With recent mild temperatures, another moose in northern Ontario needed rescuing after falling through ice last week, Ontario Provincial Police say.

Bull moose fell through the ice on Catfish Creek in northern Ontario. (OPP)

OPP was notified by a passing motorist around 1:10 p.m. Jan. 5 that a bull moose had fallen through the ice on Catfish Creek, north of Wawa, Const. Ashley Nickle told CTV News in an email.

It was a group effort by the Superior East Detachment of Ontario Provincial Police, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and local residents to save the large animal, police said on social media Wednesday.

Photos of the rescue show at least three people pulling a rope attached to the animal's antlers.

A conservation officer and local residents pull a bull moose out after it fell through the ice of Catfish Creek north of Wawa (Ontario Provincial Police)

The moose was out of the water just before 2 p.m., Nickle said. They are uncertain how long it had been stuck there.

Moose back on land after being rescued from Catfish Creek north of Wawa. (OPP)

"After the moose was rescued, the rope was cut by officers as short as possible. The remaining rope stayed attached to the moose’s antler, which will fall off soon, due to the time of year," Nickle said.

"The moose had already shed its left antler before the event. Moose generally shed their antlers once per year, in mid-winter."

Bull moose after being rescued from Catfish Creek. Jan. 5/23 (OPP)

The change in temperature combined with moving water weakens the ice and makes it unpredictable police said.

Open water on Catfish Creek after moose fell through the ice and needed to be rescued. (OPP)

Just two weeks ago, a group of four snowmobilers rescued a moose that had fallen through the ice on Manitou Lake, north of River Valley between Sudbury and North Bay.  

Snowmobilers were out sledding in an area between Sudbury and Sturgeon Falls, after returning from the trails they heard a moose fall through ice. The four men quickly got to work saving her. (Image Courtesy of Shawn Duquette)