A compassionate man who witnessed a baby moose in distress near a busy road took the initiative to save her from a lurking bear.
Mark Skage, while driving through British Columbia, Canada, noticed the vulnerable moose calf alone and endangered by passing vehicles. He then observed a black bear nearby, adding to the urgency of the situation.
Concerned for the moose’s safety, Skage made the brave decision to intervene. The baby moose, seeking refuge, attempted to enter his van. Understanding the peril the calf faced from both the traffic and the bear, he opened his vehicle and allowed her inside.
Initially, Skage waited for the moose’s mother to arrive, hoping for a reunion. However, with no sign of other moose nearby, he had to continue his journey with the young passenger. For approximately five-and-a-half hours, he traveled with the calf, taking necessary precautions to ensure her well-being.
During the trip, Skage contacted a conservation service to seek assistance in finding a suitable place for the baby moose. Ultimately, the calf, named Misty, was placed under the care of a wildlife rehabilitation center. Skage acknowledges that his actions deviated from the normal course of nature, but he would make the same choice again if faced with a similar situation.
Unfortunately, Skage faced consequences for his compassionate act. In a Facebook post, he revealed that he had been fired from his job due to a clash with his employer’s animal welfare policy. He claims that his actions were in direct conflict with the company’s wildlife policies, despite reaching out to his supervisor as per their instructions.
Skage was employed as a tank technician at AFD Petroleum, an oil company. However, the company disputes his account, stating that their vehicle cameras did not capture any evidence of a bear in the area and that Skage did not thoroughly search for the moose calf’s mother. They also claim that he did not contact the conservation service or his supervisor, as he asserted.
Transporting wildlife without a permit is illegal in British Columbia, and Skage acknowledges that he should not have taken the moose calf without authorization. In a later update to his Facebook post, Skage emphasized that a bear was indeed present further down the road, even if it was not captured on camera. He reiterated that he had contacted the conservation officer and his supervisor.
While acknowledging that his actions may not align with established protocols, Skage firmly believes that he did what he felt was right in the moment.
