Meet the 85-Year-Old AK Woman Who Fended Off a Moose Attack With a Shovel
- Posted on January 24, 2012 at 9:54am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (The Blaze/AP) — An 85-year-old Alaska woman used a grain shovel to fend off an agitated moose that was stomping her husband.
George Murphy says his wife saved his life.
The Anchorage Daily News says the 82-year-old pilot, who flew for three decades for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, was hiking with his golden retrievers near the Willow airport Friday. He saw the moose and tried to run. When he couldn’t outrun the moose, he decided to dive into a snow bank. That’s when the moose started stomping him.
“He was way off. Jeez, he spotted me and he started to come right after me. So I was trying to get to the truck. But I didn’t make it,” Murphy said.
His wife, Dorothea, who is 5 feet tall and weighs 97 pounds, heard the commotion and thought one of the dogs was being attacked. She ran to the truck, grabbed a big shovel, and hit the moose in the body and head. The moose eventually walked off. And that’s when she realized it was her husband who was being attacked.
“When it turned and started to go off slowly, I hit it with everything I had,” she told the Daily News.
“Then I saw it wasn’t Fellar the moose was after at all. He was striking over the top of Fellar [one of the dogs], to get George.”
Dorothea then ran for help, and Murphy was rushed by medical helicopter to an Anchorage hospital. He was in good condition Monday with a gash to his head and seven broken ribs.
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Comments (53)
pennsychica
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:32pmI can see PETA protesting the hospital and her home any day now…
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:27pmI had a First Sergeant who tried that with an entrenching tool. The result was Bullwinkle turned a snowmachine into fiberglass splinters. Showed Mr. First Sergeant who was boss!
Report Post »piper60
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:21pmThis woman should be the Republican nominee.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 12:49pmFrom his picture..he husband looks like he doesn’t know anything happened. Maybe she was just trying for Moose steaks.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:02pmMy shoves would have gone BANG at the moose!
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:28pmIt’s nice to have your shovels go bang as long as you have a “bang” shovel handy.
I’ll admit that when I go out into the woods here in MN I take at least my .357 even if I’m not hunting. But if there is no “bang” shovel handy, you use whatever is handy and hope and pray for the best.
Report Post »Hatedemdems
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 12:41pmWe could use her to fend off animals on the mean streets of Killadelphia.
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 12:36pmThose Alaskans are tough!
Report Post »momrules
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:42amTiny Dorthea fought the moose to protect her dog and later realized it was really after her husband.
If she had known from the git go that George was the target they would probably been having moose steaks for supper that night.
You don’t have to be big to be brave. This lady proves it.
Report Post »RodentKing
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:56amWhat was Congress Moosewoman Sheila Jackson doing in Alaska
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:04amAttending a TR, Bull Moose Party (Progressive/Socialist), meeting!
Report Post »pslm5119
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:26amWhy does every story turn to tacky political jokes?
Report Post »This woman kicked butt for her man – God bless her. God bless her and her husband for staying married in a time when most don’t stay together. God bless her for doing what needed to be done. God bless her for fighting past fear. I pray I can fight such battles when called upon.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:38amThey build women stronger and smarter in Alaska.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:44amA granny with a shovel is a dangerous animal ……
Report Post »tlchands
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:52amYes. Yes they do. If it wasn‘t for her saving her husband this wouldn’t have been news.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:36am.
I thought I heard laughter.
When the Moose got back into the forest, he tried to explain what happened to the other animals…
“It was like this, I was winning till that Upitty White Woman Went and Hit me in the Head with a Shovel”…………..
You Go Granny………..
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:35amMaybe 0bama put the moose there to create a shovel ready job.
Report Post »GBMBulletsSKNRD
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:13amNow thats a good one ROFLMAO. Send it to the White House.
Report Post »Stevsea
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:26amOh man, that was precious!
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:30amI’ll bet that moose is still trying to figure out what just happened to him
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:29amThere are still self reliant Americans.
Report Post »Dodsfall
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:28amThe dogs should be scolded for not protecting their owner. It’s a good thing she was there.
Report Post »geomann
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:39amIf you read the story carefully, one of the dogs was under the front end of that moose trying to defend the guy. It says the moose was stepping over the dog (Feller) to get to the man (Murphy). This lady was fighting a moose for her dog! She fought even harder when she found out it was her husband being attacked. Life’s greatest gift is a good woman like her.
Report Post »stogieguy7
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:27amThey must have done something to provoke the moose, they don‘t just attack like that unless there’s a reason. Normally, the would run away from you. They don’t just “attack” in the way that the story implies. Clearly, the piece was written by a city person.
99.9999% of the time, the main danger that moose pose are on the highway. Their eyes don’t reflect headlights, they‘re dark in color and their legs are long so you can’t see them at night and when you hit them, you get 700 pounds of moose through your windshield at 55 mph.
Report Post »beggindog
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:33amA bull moose feeling territorial or in rut will attack humans…Believe me, I know…
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:00amDon’t know where you got your information, but don’t be around a bull moose during rutting. They will attack anything including a tractor trailer. Up in New Hampshire several years ago a bull moose charged the side of a tractor trailer. He hit the trailer with such force that his head went through the side and he was mortally injured. The moose was put down.
A sow will be very protective of her young and will defend herself and her calves in the manner described in the story.
The bottom line here is that moose are wild animals and just because they look big, slow and dumb doesn’t mean they are not dangerous.
I often saw moose in Anchorage and Fairbanks within the city confines. Most of the time they coexisted fairly well with the local human population. However, there have been many homeowner incidents in Anchorage with the moose. There is also a problem with them out by the airport (Stevens) in Anchorage.
Report Post »woodsmama
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 12:58pmMoose are not friendly, especially those in rut or mamas caring for young. It has been a hard season already this year and they are moving into populated areas because it is easier for them to move and find food. We can all learn a little lesson from nature in this instance, hunger and hardship will drive anyone to extreme measures. The moose don’t want to be around people any more than we want them in our yards, but they are running out of easy routes to take.
On a different note, I want to say thank God this lady and her honey are ok! They are blessed to have each other. Thank you Dorothea, you are a beautiful reminder of the strength and perseverance that we all possess in crazy moments.
Report Post »Veteran Patriot
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:57pmMoose are basically solitary and not particularly even tempered. And who can blame them. Imagine growing up as a moose in the forest. Elk and deer have the sleek, smooth shape in their heads and attractive antlers. They were probably merciless as they teased the moose in the neighborhood. “Hey, where did you get that big nose?“ ”Wow, What happened, did your mama accidentally step on your antlers? HAHAHAHA!!!” Yeah, growing up like that could leave any animal with a bad attitude…
Report Post »Diablo4965
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:26amI hope the moose is ok!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:23amMost DEMOCRATS wouldn’t know which end of the shovel to pick up. That’s why WTSHTF , DEMOCRATS will be eliminated First.
Report Post »Good Job Dorothea
Gonzo
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:22amYes, along with 23 of her closest moose friends.
Report Post »Watchyer6
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:19amWatch out for Bullwinkle.
Report Post »Diablo4965
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:28amMaybe he was just trying to pull a George out of his snowbank?
Report Post »garyM
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:18amMaybe this lady who got attack by the Moose can give us some facts about Romney, no one else will! LOL
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:08amEven though we are a Predator Species… this is a Reminder: Nature Sucks!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:07amFirst – thank God for granting her the bravery to face the moose and for saving her husband.
Second – WOW! Women in Alaska have to be tough indeed.
Report Post »Common.Cents
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:05amI hope my wife could do that when we are both old.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:14amShe needs to start training young. Send her to Alaska with a snow shovel for 6 months.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:02amShe’s obviously a conservative. A liberal would have called on government to save her husband.
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:26amWow! We could use her in D.C tonight,as soon as the bullcrap starts flying,WHAM!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:29amHe won’t make it to the podium before the bull starts flying.
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:29amDo you think the libs will want to get rid of all the moose now and maybe the EPA will fine her for saving her husband by using a deadly weapon? LOL
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:04amShovels don’t kill mooses…people do.
Report Post »cyclops
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:01amWow……………Incredible and he is lucky to be alive……..Glad he is going to be alright….
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