It’s not every day you find a moose in your backyard. But Shannon Lugdon, who lives in northern Maine, is one of the few people who can say it happened to her!
Now, anyone who knows anything about these majestic animals knows that they’re big, and can get aggressive if they’re feeling threatened. That’s why, when she discovered a 6-day-old, 27-pound baby moose, her initial instinct was to leave her alone and call the wildlife wardens.
https://www.facebook.com/shannon.lugdon/videos/pcb.10156362399148350/10156362397738350/?type=3&theater
Lugdon explained on a Facebook post:
“So this happened! Miss Maggie Moose was heard calling for her Momma around 5am Saturday. Around 1pm, we intervened to keep her from wandering into route 11.”
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“Two phenomenal wardens – Adrian and Nick – came over and we helped Miss Maggie back down to the brook in the shade. She spent the day wandering around by the brook and returning to the spot we think her Momma had left her. The wardens asked us not to go near her for 24 hours, wild animals often leave their babies to eat, drink and rest. ‘Abandoned’ moose are rarely actually abandoned. “
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156362394403350&set=a.10151094244893350&type=3&theater
The next day, the moose, dubbed “Maggie,” was nowhere in sight. So, Lugdon let her pup out for a bathroom break. That’s when something magical happened!
“Sunday morning I went out to check on her and didn’t see her. I let Leo out to do his business and he walked right over and Miss Maggie and Leo became fast friends!”
https://www.facebook.com/shannon.lugdon/videos/pcb.10156362399148350/10156362396448350/?type=3&theater
After calling a vet for advice, Lugdon gave Maggie some Lactaid and “a grass, clover, water milkshake”!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156362394133350&set=a.10151094244893350&type=3&theater
She then rang up the wardens to take her to a sanctuary — but not before socializing a little bit first!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156362394028350&set=a.10151094244893350&type=3&theater
“She followed us around all day begging for attention. You can’t imagine how affectionate she was. “
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156362394338350&set=a.10151094244893350&type=3&theater
Maggie was eventually taken to the Maine Wildlife Park, where she can grow up in safety and meet some other moose! We wish her the best of luck, and are so happy that this family, along with dog Leo took such good care of her.
(h/t: People Pets)
