In Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Angie Tuffnell faced a bone-chilling wind chill of -40 when she encountered a starving moose seeking warmth by her house. The situation quickly turned dangerous as the moose attacked Angie, prompting her son, Shawn Tuffnell, to intervene.
In a dramatic confrontation, Shawn bravely confronted the moose, initially resorting to punching it in the face in an attempt to protect his mother. Despite injuring the animal, it continued its aggression, forcing Shawn to use a shovel to defend himself. The intense struggle escalated as the moose attempted to enter the house, with Shawn ultimately wrestling the moose into a headlock to prevent further harm to his mother.
The harrowing ordeal came to an end when Shawn, assisted by his mother’s boyfriend, used a .22-calibre rifle to incapacitate the moose after multiple shots. A subsequent examination by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative confirmed the moose’s death from gunshot wounds.
The examination revealed that the moose was weak and starving, with no fat reserves, indicating its desperate search for food and warmth. Despite the traumatic experience, both Angie and Shawn sustained injuries but survived the encounter. Moose expert Ryan Brook explained that in extreme cold, moose exhibit unpredictable behavior as they seek thermal cover.
The incident highlights the increasing overlap between wildlife habitats and human settlements in Saskatchewan, emphasizing the need for caution around wild animals. While the Tuffnell family grapples with the aftermath of the attack, they are grateful to have survived the ordeal, acknowledging the necessity of their actions in the face of imminent danger.