Neither snow nor rain nor heat - but a bull moose?

A stubborn bull moose held up a helpless mail carrier with a Jeep full of mail for 23 hours in March, 1950.

It was a Saturday morning when Ralph Day, mail carrier, was stopped by the moose on a one way road during his Polebridge mail route. There were three and four feet banks of snow on both sides and no way for the Jeep to proceed. The moose was determined it was going to control the road and it did. There was some damage to the Jeep’s radiator, but that was all.

Standoff was within Glacier National Park borders. Finally the mail carrier retreated to the Anaconda Creek patrol cabin.

He cranked up the phone and reached Ranger Bruce Miller at Polebridge and explained his dilemma.

Ranger Miller, accompanied by Ben Heriem, drove the 11 miles to the standoff location. Shots fired into the air didn’t alarm the moose. Well located buck shot found the target but the moose was not concerned.

It was getting dark and Ranger Miller returned to Polebridge. He telephoned Chief Ranger Fladmark and A. D. Cannavina, assistant chief ranger in charge of forestry and wildlife.

Ralph Day gave up his hopeless vigil in the Jeep and went back to the cabin to spend the night.

The diligent moose was still blocking the road Sunday morning. Ranger Miller returned, trying again to alarm the animal by shooting into the air.

It was unsuccessful again and mail had been delayed 23 hours.

Final solution was a well aimed bullet, which ended the moose mail blockade.

It was reported the meat was too tough and stringy to give to the Flathead County Hospital or school lunch programs.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.