In a dramatic turn of events during a fishing trip, a Maine man utilized his pickup truck to thwart a bear’s attack on a moose calf, ultimately facilitating a reunion between the young animal and its mother. The incident unfolded Thursday in Telos Township, Maine, when Todd Malcolm and his wife, Elvia, stopped to admire a moose near the roadside.
An Unexpected Encounter
The Malcolms had pulled over, hoping to capture a photograph of the cow moose they had spotted at the edge of the woods. “Grab your phone because you’re going to get a chance to get a picture of a moose,” Todd Malcolm recalled telling his wife. However, as they observed the moose from their parked truck, they noticed it seemed unusually distressed. Their concern was quickly validated.
Suddenly, a bear emerged from the trees, closely pursued by a moose calf. The pair sprinted directly towards the couple’s truck. Todd Malcolm, witnessing the scene, felt an immediate need to intervene. He believed the bear was moments away from catching the vulnerable calf.
A Quick-Thinking Rescue
“I knew what I had to do and I just did it,” Malcolm stated, describing his swift decision to act. He explained his intention was not to harm the bear but simply to place his vehicle between the predator and its intended prey. “I put the truck in drive and I just stepped on the gas,” he recounted.
The maneuver proved effective. As the truck accelerated, the bear veered off, abandoning the chase and disappearing back into the dense woods. “Boom, gone, right in the woods,” Malcolm said.
A Mother and Calf Reunited
The experience was understandably harrowing for Elvia Malcolm as well. “My heart was racing because I did not want to witness the bear catching the calf,” she shared. “As soon as the calf got past the truck and we were able to get the bear to give up the chase, I looked up the road and saw that they were together, the mom and the calf.” The relief was palpable as they observed the mother moose and her calf reunited and safe.
Remarkably, amidst the adrenaline-fueled rescue, Elvia Malcolm managed to document the dramatic encounter through photographs. She clarified that she took the pictures from inside the safety of the truck, emphasizing, “No way was I getting outside the truck.” She initially mistook the images for a smudge on the windshield before realizing she had captured the intense moments.
Continuing the Day
After ensuring the moose family was safely reunited and the immediate danger had passed, the couple resumed their fishing expedition, the extraordinary event adding an unforgettable chapter to their day. The quick thinking and decisive action of Todd Malcolm prevented a tragic outcome for the young moose calf.
