Lovell Fire Chief Tommie McKenzie pets a young moose that somehow made its way into a fire pond off Sabattus Road in Center Lovell late Monday afternoon. Maine Game Wardens, members of the Lovell Fire Department and a deputy from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the small fire pond located a few hundred yards off the roadway after word was received of the young calf’s life-threatening dilemma.  

LOVELL — A young cow moose, believed stuck in a fire pond off Sabattus Road for two days, was rescued Monday night by game wardens and town workers.

Fire Chief Tommie McKenzie said nearby residents discovered the animal’s plight and reported it Monday. Maine Warden Service officers went to the scene and asked for additional help from Lovell Fire Department and town highway workers.

“We put a nylon strap around it and just pulled it out,” he said.

The moose, believed to be about 2 years old, apparently could not get out of the pond because the banks were too soft and too steep, he said. It was exhausted, he said.

“Wardens left it there,” away from the pond “so it could recover,” the chief said.

He said it didn’t appear to be injured.

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“Someone came by (the pond) and spotted a moose there a couple of days ago,” the chief said, leading rescuers to believe it was the same young cow rescued Monday, given its physical condition.

“Hopefully, she’ll be gone by morning,” after regaining her strength, McKenzie said. 

Efforts to reach Warden Kris Barboza, who was in charge of the rescue, were unsuccessful Monday night.

mdelamater@sunjournal.com


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