A Man Befriends A Moose And Their Bond Revolutionizes Hunting Methods

By: Riley Brown | Last updated: Sep 25, 2023

Erikas Plucas is no stranger to animals, being a farmer, but even he was intimidated when he encountered a baby moose in need. With such a formidable size, moose are the largest members of the deer family and can seem like the uncles of reindeer. 

Despite this, Erikas did not shy away from the 1,000-pound creature and instead developed a lifelong friendship. This remarkable story of a moose and a man’s bond has even influenced hunting practices in the area. Learn more about this remarkable tale below.

The Tranquil Atmosphere of the Countryside

Erikas Plucas, a farmer from Lithuania, is lucky enough to be surrounded by the serenity of nature. Living on a farm adjacent to a forest, Erikas is able to appreciate the beauty of the outdoors. 

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Although he is far from the hustle and bustle of city life, he is never lonely. His farm animals and the creatures of the forest provide him with companionship. The countryside’s tranquil atmosphere allows Erikas to find peace and tranquility in his everyday life.

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Surprise Discovery of a Baby Moose

Erikas arrived home one day, and to his surprise, he found a baby moose near his farm’s entrance. Knowing that the mother moose would be somewhere close by, Erikas cautiously surveyed the area in case of a potential threat.

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

However, the mother was nowhere to be seen. He gradually moved closer to inspect the calf. After a thorough examination, Erikas was able to piece together the story of why this young animal was all alone.

Rescuing the Baby Moose

As Erikas slowly crept up to the baby moose, his heart sank. He reckoned she couldn’t be more than two weeks old. With a heavy heart, he realized the little one was in dire straits. She was alone and surrounded by flies, dirty and visibly exhausted. When she caught sight of Erikas, she quivered in fear, far too weak to run away.

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“It was heartbreaking,” he murmured, gazing at the young animal who was in desperate need of help. The poor thing had no food or protection, and Erikas knew he had to do something.

What Could Have Happened?

Erikas was deep in thought as he gazed upon the emaciated moose before him. He could not help but feel sorrow for the poor animal in such a weakened state. The only explanation he could come up with was that the calf’s mother had been hurt, leaving the young moose helpless and alone. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

This unfortunate incident left the calf in an ailing state, prompting Erikas to ponder the fragility of life. Such a tragedy was upsetting to him, and he wished the baby moose had not endured this much

Finds Lack on The Farm

It was then that Erikas deduced that the infant must have witnessed her mother’s demise and instinctively sought a place of refuge to take shelter from the tragedy. 

Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Despite being so young, the moose had an innate understanding of its surroundings and had come to Erikas’ farm for a reason. Whether it was because it was too weak to travel any further or it had sensed a safe haven, the baby moose was fortunate to have found a place to call home.

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Necessary Steps to Keep It Alive

Erikas was overjoyed when he discovered a wild animal, but he knew first he had to contact animal services. He didn’t have much time to spare, so he went ahead and took all the necessary steps to keep the calf alive. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Gathering as many green leaves as he could and providing it m with milk, he was hopeful that the calf would survive till the morning when animal services would arrive. He was aware that the calf was in a very precarious condition, so he had to act quickly and vigilantly.

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Getting Advice from Friends

Erikas’ heart was warmed when he saw the young moose take to the food he had provided with such enthusiasm. He was confident that, by eating right away, the animal would make it to see the morning sun. 

Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Erikas had already contacted animal services, so the next step was to seek advice from his friends. To his surprise, they all seemed to have the same reaction – they encouraged him to “let nature take care of it.” Despite their opinion, Erikas knew he had to do what he thought was right.

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Refusing to Give Up on the Baby Moose

Regardless of what anyone said, Erikas was determined to save the baby moose. A passionate nature-loving farmer, there was no way he could simply ignore a helpless creature, especially after it was brought to safety. Knowing the odds of the calf making it this far were slim, he refused to give up on a miracle. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

He found a barn that could keep it safe from predators, but when animal services arrived the following day, they showed complete apathy. Erikas chose to remain hopeful that the moose would make a full recovery and find its way back home.

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Finding a Home for the Calf

The morning brought a glimmer of hope for Erikas when the animal services arrived. Though, the news they had was heartbreaking – no facility in Lithuania could provide refuge for the little moose.

Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

As a result, the only way to keep her safe would be to raise her himself. The animal services suggested Erikas contact local hunters to see if they would take the calf off his hands. However, this was different than the outcome he had hoped for.

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Dedication to the Moose Calf

Erikas was met with worry and unease when he asked his friends for advice about taking on the wild moose as his own. Despite his concern about lawfulness, he consulted with animal services for further information. To his astonishment, they confirmed that it was permissible for him to keep her. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Although the officials warned Erikas that he would be the sole responsible party for the calf, he still agreed to take on the task. No matter the circumstances, he was determined to be the one to provide her with the care and love she deserved.

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Feels Safe in the Hands Of the Farmer

The young moose seemed to sense something special about Erikas, which made her feel safe and reassured. She was terrified of everyone else, but something about him made her feel secure. It would take more than just physical healing for her to get better. 

Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Erikas had to help her build her confidence again, as she had been scared from a very young age. He had a lot of work to help her overcome her fear, but he was determined to make it happen.

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Sleeping in the Barn

When Erikas named the calf Emma, he vowed to take care of her no matter what. Even though it was a difficult job, especially when she was still young, he was up to the challenge. Emma required a lot of attention and would make her needs known by crying as soon as he walked into the house. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

So, Erikas made a decision to sleep in the barn with her to make her feel secure. Undoubtedly, his dedication to Emma didn’t go unrecognized; she quickly grew to have unwavering faith in him.

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Helping Emma Acclimate to the Wild

Erikas was determined to fulfill every one of Emma’s needs, and over time, she developed an unshakeable trust in him and his farm. It was a safe haven where the baby moose could finally feel at ease. 

Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Although Erikas knew that Emma couldn’t remain on the farm forever, he wanted her to experience a more natural way of life, so he was determined to help her acclimatize to the wild. It was a difficult feat, as Emma was scared of the unfamiliar and held on tightly to the security of her safe bubble.

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Exploring the Forest Together

Erikas’ unconditional love and care for Emma was evident as the pup gradually grew larger. Knowing it was time to push her out of her comfort zone, Erikas took her on walks in the forest, hoping the natural environment would ignite her innate instincts.

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Though terrified of the unknown, Emma followed her caregiver’s every step, trusting the man who had raised her since she was a pup. Gradually, she understood that the forest wasn’t as scary as she had initially thought.

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Learning to Forage for Food

Emma was unprepared for the wilderness without a mother to show her the way. Fortunately, Erikas was knowledgeable about the natural world, so he decided to do what he could to make sure she was ready to fend for herself. 

Source: erikasplucas/Instagram

He took her to places where she could find food and taught her which areas were safe. He did his best to ensure she had all the information needed to be independent in the wild. With Erikas’ guidance, Emma could eventually take care of herself and thrive in her natural environment.

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Emma and Erikas' Adventures in Nature

Gradually, Emma found solace in the outdoors and nature. She and Erikas ventured out together, trekking in the woods and, eventually, swimming in nearby lakes, no matter the weather. The two were often spotted in the great outdoors, enjoying the fresh air. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

When it came to humans, however, Emma was only comfortable with Erikas. He said, “To me, she is gentle and loving.” With his presence, Emma felt more and more at ease. She had finally found the trust and security she needed to explore the world around her.

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Erikas' Fear of Losing Emma

Erikas had watched Emma grow from a mere calf into a full-grown moose. He had seen her gain strength and weight and was proud of her progress. However, he was aware that her new strength posed a danger and watched her carefully.

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Emma was very gentle with Erikas, and he was touched by her behavior, seemingly aware that he had been her caretaker for so long. Erikas knew that soon Emma would be ready to live independently. He worried that the same fate that had befallen her mother would also befall Emma, and he was determined to keep her safe. 

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Emma's Impact on the Hunters

He decided to have a few hunters come over to show them that Emma was more than a meal – she was a creature to be respected. Her intelligence and serene composure were clear signs of her intelligence, while her love for Erikas was evident. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

The hunters who visited were so taken aback by Emma’s gentle nature that they vowed not to harm her. Some even chose to take the drastic step of stopping hunting moose, while others chose to put an end to hunting altogether. Emma’s presence had a profound effect on these hunters. 

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Wandering off All by Herself

Thanks to the love and support of her human companion, Erikas, Emma was slowly regaining her confidence. Initially, she had been scared of the forest, but over time, she began accompanying Erikas on his daily walks through the woods. 

Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Eventually, she was even able to wander off by herself. Erikas was understandably concerned for Emma’s safety, even though he knew that the local hunters would never hurt her and that she was more than capable of taking care of herself. Even so, it was hard for him to let go and trust that she would return safely.

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Erikas' Anxiety for Emma's Safety

Erikas’ trepidation was palpable the first night Emma ventured out into the forest alone. He remembers barely being able to sleep, for the very place where he had instilled in her the sense of safety had now become a source of fear for Erikas.

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

He reminded himself that this was what he had aspired for and prepared her for. True to his expectations, Emma returned every time after her expeditions, safe, mature, and totally autonomous, embracing her life in her environment.

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Emma and Erikas' Unbreakable Bond

Emmas’ love for Erikas was evident as she returned to his farm every day, despite being perfectly capable of surviving in the wild. Though she no longer required his help to stay alive, her connection to him was strong. 

Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

This made the farmer proud, knowing that his efforts in helping her gain independence had been worth it. Every time she returned, it comforted Erikas and reminded them of their bond.

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Emma Gets a Surprise

Emma had finally found a place to call home. She had a cozy spot in the forest and a place to stay on the farm. Little did she know that things were about to get even better for her. Erikas had a hunch that something was up, and sure enough, he eventually figured it out: Emma was expecting! That’s when it all clicked. 

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Source: Erikas Plucas/Facebook

Erikas was the first to notice something was amiss. Emma had returned home from her daily ventures, but Erikas noticed her stomach seemed to be growing this time. After some contemplation, it became clear that Emma was pregnant! 

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An Incredible Realization for Emma

Erikas isn’t a vet but tends to animals on his farm. He’s accustomed to witnessing pregnant animals, and as the days pass, he becomes more convinced that Emma is pregnant. 

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This was an exciting revelation because there would be more delightful moose on his farm, signifying that Emma had defied the odds and achieved a new level of success. She had not only survived on her own, but she had also started a family.

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The Power of Friendship and Support

Emma’s life is a beautiful example of the beauty of nature and the power of friendship. She blossomed with the help of Erikas, and their bond is a reminder that relationships are essential even in the animal kingdom. 

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Emma’s story is a testament to her strength and resilience and the power of friendship and support. She will live on in her calf, and with the love of a supportive human friend and a strong, confident mother, her calf will be in good hands.

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