Erika Plucas is just an ordinary man who lived a quiet life. He had chosen to live in the countryside near the forests of Lithuania to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The best thing about living near the forest is that you can stroll through it whenever you need to take a walk.
Source: Soolide
There were only a few people in the area so he loved the isolation. Plucas was coming home from one of those strolls when he encountered an unexpected visitor in his property. A baby moose was in front of his gate.
A lost baby
Plucas was surprised. He looked around to see if the mother of the baby moose was nearby. Usually, young animals would stay by their mother’s side the whole time and would definitely stay away from human interaction.
Source: Soolide
As someone who lives nearby the Lithuanian forest and someone who loves to stroll in the forest, Plucas often sees wild animals but only from afar. He never really got to get a good look. This baby moose is the first time he has been this close to a wild animal.
It needed help
From the looks of it, the baby moose looks like it was a newborn – probably just a few weeks old. It looked completely helpless. Was it abandoned by its mother? Plucas was no wildlife expert but he could tell that this baby moose needed help.
Source: Soolide
Plucas could only conclude that the baby and the mother must be separated because there were hunters in the forest. After all, animals only abandon their newborns when it is a matter of life and death. Maybe the hunters killed its mother and this baby was fortunate enough to escape.
A true animal lover
The baby moose was a sorry sight. It had blood on its skin and flies were buzzing around it. Aside from that, the baby moose needed a bath badly because it was all covered up in the dirt. Plucas decided to scoop up the baby moose and carry it inside his house.
Source: Soolide
He did not hesitate at all. At least inside his property, the baby moose will be safe from predators and any harm that could come its way. Besides, he could not bear the thought of leaving the poor animal alone to fend for itself.
Asking help from the professionals
Plucas had no problem bringing the poor baby moose inside his house. The only problem was that he did not know what to do next. He had no medical experience and no idea how to take care of animals. Plucas was not sure how to tend to the baby moose’s wounds.
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Plucas decided to call animal services. He waited patiently as the phone rang, hoping that he could get help in time. The baby moose was starting to look really weak. It took a while for Animal Services to pick up his call and it was disappointing.
They had to wait
The person he talked to explained that there were too many animals in need that day and they were short on staff and space. Nobody could help him right away. They told him to look after the moose himself and promised to send someone right away the next day.
Source: Soolide
Plucas had no idea if the baby moose would survive the night with his lack of experience. His first instinct tells him to feed the baby moose. So Plucas collected some leaves and poured some milk into a bowl.
Surviving the night
The baby moose ate everything eagerly. The fact that the animal had an appetite was reassuring to Plucas. But he still had a hard time sleeping at night. He was so nervous that the baby moose would not make it and he had no idea how else he could help it.
Source: Soolide
When morning finally came, he was relieved. He checked on the baby moose again and found that it was still alive. Animal Services came knocking on his door a few hours later. They checked on the moose and saw that it was doing okay.
Bad news
They told Plucas that the baby moose was a girl. Unfortunately, they had some bad news. They did not have a place to take care of her so they could not take her in. Her injuries and the fact that she was a weak newborn also meant she had a minimal chance to survive.
Source: Soolide
Then, one of them suggested a surprising solution. One of them told him that if Plucas wanted the baby moose out of his hands, he should call one of the local hunters in town. They would know how to deal with it and it would save him the trouble of having to bury the dead body later on.
He won’t give her up
Plucas could not believe his ears. Was Animal Services really suggesting that he hand over the poor baby moose to the very same people who had likely murdered her mother? He knew right then and there that there was no way he would let this happen.
Source: Soolide
Plucas felt like he was responsible for the baby moose. And if Animal Services thinks it’s not worth their time saving her, he thinks otherwise. Plucas was not giving up on the baby moose. He felt protective of her. Plucas declined their offer to call the local hunters.
Negotiating with Animal Services
But there was also a law that prevented people from keeping and taking care of wild animals. Despite this, Plucas asked Animal Services if they can give him custody of the baby moose. A long argument ensued as the people from Animal Services told him it was not only illegal, it was also dangerous.
Source: Soolide
But Plucas refused to back down. He told them that since they were unwilling to help the baby moose, he should be given at least the right to try to nurse it back to health. He pointed out that he had a huge property and a barn where the moose can grow up comfortably in.
Officially becoming a foster dad
In the end, Animal Services got fed up, told him to do what he want, and gave him the right to take care of the baby moose. Now that Plucas can keep the baby moose legally, he decided to give it a name. He decided to go with Emma.
Source: Soolide
It was a challenge trying to feed and nurse Emma back to health but Plucas was very committed. It was as if he had a paternal instinct kick in when he spent time with Emma. He devoted a lot of time and attention to her.
A special bond was formed
Emma would show her gratitude by treating him gently in return. She was very comfortable around Plucas and anyone can easily tell that they have developed a strong bond with each other. It did not take long for Emma to be strongly attached to Plucas. The two became family.
Source: Soolide
Emma regained her strength and her health under the love, care, and attention of Plucas. She was starting to grow and Plucas knew that Emma would someday be too big to be a house pet. She belonged in the wild and she would need to go back to the forest soon.
Exposure to nature
Now that Emma was growing, Plucas decided to do everything he can to help her adjust to the wild. With the forest nearby, he took Emma with him on his walks hoping to expose Emma to the forest. But the first time he tried to take Emma with him, it was a tough job.
Source: Soolide
Emma seemed to be afraid of the forest. Every time Plucas would try to lead her in it, her face would change and she would be petrified on the spot. It looked like she could still remember whatever trauma she had within the forest.
She started to feel comfortable
But Plucas never gave up. With each attempt, he would be able to lead Emma deeper into the forest. After a few trips, Emma started to feel comfortable – as long as Plucas was by her side. Plucas would talk to her gently, showing which areas are safe and what leaves and fruits she can eat in the forest.
Source: Soolide
Emma eventually started to love the forest. Plucas felt delighted when he gets to see Emma roaming and feeding herself in her own natural environment. Then, they finally reached the day when Emma went into the forest out of her own free will.
Roaming on her own
Plucas felt so proud as he watched Emma step bravely into the forest without him. It was like watching a child take her first steps. The next day, Emma did the same thing. It came to a point where Emma would have one adventure after another in the forest.
Source: Soolide
There were days when she would go out there for the whole day but she would always return by the time the sun sets. There were times when he would still worry about her but Placus knows it was almost time for him to let go of Emma so he kept his worries at bay.
She was gone
Then, one day, Emma did not come home after sundown. Placus waited out on the porch for her, worried that she had gotten lost in the forest or worse, that some hunters had found her. He stayed out all night but she never showed.
Source: Soolide
Several days had passed since Emma’s disappearance. Plucas was worried sick but he eventually realized that Emma was a fully grown moose now. Perhaps she has realized that the forest was where she truly belonged.
It was time to let go
Plucas slowly learned to let go and accept the fact that his role in Emma’s life was over. He was just glad that he was able to do a successful job in helping her adjust to the wild. Although Plucas missed her a lot, he knew Emma was where she truly belonged.
Source: Soolide
Then one day, out of the blue, Emma made an appearance outside his house. It looked like she had dropped by for a visit. She had grown bigger and looked so grown up. Plucas stayed with her the whole time – who knows when he’d be able to see Emma again.
A plan to keep her safe
But the next day, Emma was waiting for him when he woke up. It was the same for the next couple of days. The two spent some time playing together and bonding, making up for the lost time. Now that Emma has fully grown into a beautiful and large moose, Plucas started to worry that she would be targeted by hunters in the area.
Source: Soolide
He hoped she would just stay with him so that she would stay safe. Plucas had always felt responsible towards her ever since she was a helpless baby. Plucas thought of a way to save Emma. One day, when Emma came to visit him, Plucas quickly made a call to the local hunters and invited them over.
An unexpected promise
Plucas wanted them to meet Emma in person so that they would see that she is more than meat. Plucas had no idea how the meeting would turn out. When the hunters arrived, Plucas reluctantly led them to his property where Emma was enjoying a swim in the waterhole. The hunters watched Plucas interact with Emma and they also joined the fun eventually when Plucas waved them over.
Source: Soolide
After that, the hunters who came promised Plucas that they would never hurt Emma in case they run into her in the forest. They see the deep and loving connection he shared with Emma and felt that it would be a moral crime to hunt her down.
Everyone needed saving
In fact, their group agreed that they would stop hunting all the wild moose in the forest. His special bond with Emma had inspired the hunters and as a result, their story would be able to save more moose in the forest. Plucas was overwhelmed. He rescues one moose and ended saving so much more.
Source: Soolide
Plucas never regretted taking Emma in. Since he met Emma, he had been content and reached a level of happiness that he never thought was possible. Sometimes he wonders: was it he who saved Emma or was it the other way around?