A Crucial Detail
The she-wolf must have been stuck for a while since he saw that the trap the wolf was half-covered in snow. It would soon cover her if she didn’t get out. Additionally, there was probably a den of wolf pups that needed their mother.
Her pups were probably still alive, but they would starve if she didn’t get back to them. He knew that he had to do something. But it was risky, once she was free, there was no telling what she would do to him.