Warning: The following account includes graphic details of violence towards an animal.
In Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Angie Tuffnell faced bone-chilling temperatures of -40 as she stepped outside to start her car, a routine day turned chaotic.
Angie’s son, Shawn Tuffnell, recalled hearing her screams and rushing to her aid, only to find a desperate moose near their home. The hungry moose, seeking warmth from a dryer vent, unexpectedly attacked Angie.
A tense confrontation unfolded as Shawn decided to directly engage the aggressive creature. “My immediate reaction — perhaps not the wisest — was to go out and punch it in the face,” Shawn recounted to CBC’s The 306.
Despite splitting the moose’s lip with his punch, the animal persisted, lunging towards Shawn. Armed with a shovel, Shawn struck the moose multiple times, but it continued its assault.
Retreating indoors, Shawn found the moose forcing its way into the house, targeting his mother. Acting swiftly, Shawn grabbed the animal by its ears and nostrils, wrestling it into submission to protect Angie, using the doorframe as a shield against its hooves.
In a life-threatening situation, Shawn resorted to extreme measures to save his mother. He finally managed to subdue the moose with a .22-calibre rifle provided by Angie’s boyfriend, firing multiple shots to neutralize the animal.
Shawn strategically aimed for the moose’s eye to prevent further harm to his mother before ultimately incapacitating the animal with additional shots. The post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as “multiple gunshot wounds to the head,” with one penetrating the brain.
The examination verified Shawn’s observation that the moose was malnourished, lacking essential fat reserves. The animal’s dire condition was attributed to starvation as it sought warmth in the frigid weather.
Reflecting on the harrowing encounter, Shawn expressed regret over having to kill the moose but emphasized the necessity of the action to ensure their survival.
Moose expert Ryan Brook from the University of Saskatchewan explained that in extreme cold, moose seek thermal shelter, which contributed to the unusual aggression displayed in this incident.
With moose populations expanding into new territories in Saskatchewan, encounters like the Tuffnells’ are becoming more common, highlighting the need for caution around wildlife.
Following the ordeal, Angie is recovering from a leg injury, while Shawn sustained minor injuries but is grateful that they all survived the dangerous encounter.
