One quiet September day in Pembroke, Maine, a powerful crash echoed across a family farm — the sound of something big going very wrong. A moose wandering through the property had accidentally fallen into an old stone well, and the impact was impossible to miss.
According to News Center Maine, fifteen-year-old Cole Brown was nearby at the time, working on a project for his shed-building business. When he heard the alarming noise, he immediately knew something was wrong and alerted his family, including his sister, Delaney Gardner. Together, they rushed toward the sound — and were stunned by what they found.
At the bottom of the well was an enormous moose, trapped with no way out.
Knowing they needed professional help fast, the family called local wildlife authorities. Before long, state biologists, game wardens and even nearby community members gathered on the property, ready to do whatever it took to save the animal.
One rescuer carefully climbed down into the well and sedated the moose, gently covering his eyes with a shirt to keep him calm. After plenty of trial, teamwork and problem-solving, the group managed to secure the moose in a harness. Using a mix of manpower and machinery, they slowly lifted him back up to solid ground.
“It was amazing to see everyone come together and figure out a plan,” Gardner told News Center Maine. “There’s no handbook for rescuing a moose from a well, so watching all that problem-solving in real time was incredible.”
You can watch the whole rescue unfold in a video here:
Once freed, the moose rested quietly in the grass as the sedation wore off. Rescuers examined him and were relieved to find he hadn’t suffered any serious injuries.
Soon, the moose stood up, steady on all four legs, and turned toward the forest. With a strong stride, he disappeared back into the woods — leaving behind one unforgettable rescue.
“Besides a few bruises and maybe a bit of a hangover, he should make a full recovery,” state wildlife biologist Steve Dunham told News Center Maine.
