It was a once-in-a-lifetime sight that local photographer Beth Moos knew she needed to capture.

On Sunday, in clear view of I-90 between Belgrade and Manhattan, stood four bull elk, submerged to their stomachs in icy pond water that showed no sign of melting as temperatures struggled to stay above single digits.

Although Moos hadn’t been near the highway when the elk first entered the freezing water, some friends who were passing by alerted her husband. He promptly contacted Moos, knowing this was a moment she wouldn’t want to miss.

Moos grabbed her 400 mm lens and booked it out the door, guided only by the pinned location her husband had texted her. Minutes later, at around 3 p.m., she knew she was at the right spot as flashing police lights, a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warde

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