ISHPEMING - Four Negaunee snowmobilers worked to rescue a moose from the icy waters of the Silver Lake Basin in Champion Township Sunday afternoon.
Ryan Pizziola, Jason Mattson, Mark Maki and Jason Young were out on a backcountry snowmobiling trip when they came upon two bystanders who had called emergency dispatchers, reporting that a moose had broken through the ice into the waters behind the Silver Lake Dam.
Pizziola said the moose was estimated to be a 2-year-old, weighing about 700 to 800 pounds. The moose was stuck in water more than 10 feet deep, near the dam, about 150 yards from shore.
Pizziola said the riders tested the thickness of the ice to see if it was safe. Each person weighed more than 200 pounds each with their backpacks on, Pizziola said. The ice was at most 4 inches thick and unsafe for the riders to be out on. Water was coming up through the ice when the riders walked on it and the slush was heavy, Pizziola said.
They kept a distance from each other to prevent breaking through the ice as they approached the moose, and were eventually able to sling a lasso over the animal's neck.
"We pulled him out with a rope," Pizziola said.
Once on the shore, the exhausted moose remained sitting. Pizziola said the snowmobilers believe the animal survived the ordeal. They returned to the area later in the day and the moose was gone.
Pizziola said snowmobilers are often given a bad name. Here was an instance where they were doing a good deed.
"We put our lives on the line to save the moose," Pizziola said.
John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. His e-mail address is jpepin@miningjournal.net.
