Mark Skage was simply driving home from a job site when he spotted a tiny moose calf in the middle of a dangerous road. What happened next would save the animal—but ultimately cost him his job.
The young moose was dangerously close to traffic, and several vehicles had nearly hit it. Mark pulled over, initially hoping he could simply scare the calf away from the road and into a safer area.
But when he opened the door of his company vehicle, something unexpected happened.
Instead of running away, the frightened calf tried to climb inside.
Mark then noticed a black bear lurking roughly 50 meters away. With no sign of the calf’s mother anywhere nearby, his concern grew. He decided that leaving the tiny animal exposed to traffic—and potentially a predator—was too risky.
So Mark let the moose into his vehicle.
He named the unexpected passenger Misty, and the tiny calf stayed with him during a remarkable five-and-a-half-hour drive. Along the way, Mark contacted British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service to ask what he should do.
Eventually, Misty was transported to a wildlife rehabilitation center where she could receive the care she needed.
But there was an unexpected consequence for Mark.
His decision to take the wild animal into a company vehicle ultimately led to him losing his job at AFD Petroleum Inc.
For Mark, however, the encounter had already become something much bigger than a simple roadside rescue. What began with a tiny moose in danger ended with hours spent protecting an animal that had nowhere else to go.
Sometimes, doing what feels right can come with a price—and Mark’s unexpected passenger made sure he would never forget that day.