'We gave it a fighting chance': Albertans free elk calf stuck in river mud
A leisurely float down a northwestern Alberta river quickly became a rescue situation on Saturday, when several kayakers came across a baby animal in distress.
Curtis Stewart and Chantel Matlock were on the Smoky River about 30 minutes east of Grande Prairie, when they noticed a baby elk stuck in the mud.
"He was pretty tired and super quiet," Stewart told CTV News Edmonton.
"When I first got out of my kayak, I sunk down just about to my hips in the mud. So I could right away understand how stuck the little guy was."
A total of seven people stopped to help dig the animal out. Matlock said many of the rescuers had previous experience with animals, but not rescuing wild ones.
"He kinda hit the jackpot with us coming along: farm kids, a vet tech, people with science backgrounds," she explained.
Kayakers who rescued an elk calf stuck in the mud on the Smoky River near Grande Prairie, Alta. on August 6, 2022 (Source: Chantel Matlock).
"I grew up on an alpaca farm…So I just grabbed the container we had our lunch in, put some water in it and poured it down its throat and it kinda sputtered. It was cute."
Eventually the group was able to free the animal and carry it up a river bank. The calf was left in a field close to where it was found.
Stewart and Matlock hiked to the spot Monday night to check on the elk, but it was no longer there.
"We found lots of hoof prints around, so we're hoping that the mom came and found it. We're optimistic," Stewart said.
"We kind of thought we gave it a fighting chance and we'll let nature take its course after that," Matlock said.
'REALLY COMMENDABLE' BUT POTENTIALLY 'VERY DANGEROUS'
A local wildlife expert applauded the rescue, but wanted to remind people to call Alberta Fish and Wildlife or organizations like his for advice before attempting to help other wild creatures.
"It's really commendable what these folks did," said Dale Gienow, Executive Director of WILDNorth.
"Clearly that elk stuck in the mud wouldn't have made it and if mom came to retrieve it, there's a reasonable chance she gets stuck too."
Gienow said his biggest safety concern in that situation would have been the parents of the calf.
"Elk moms can be very protective of their young and very dangerous. There have been mortalities associated with people handling calves in close proximity to a parent animal, even accidentally getting close to a calf when mom's around," he explained.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife recommends people leave wildlife alone in most situations, but the government does maintain a list of wildlife rehabilitation groups that people can call for help.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Alison MacKinnon
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.