moose # 1
Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 03:00PM 
A cow moose eating lunch • click to embiggenAaron called at around 11:30AM and basically said, "Meet you at the moose."
When I arrived in the vicinity, there was neither a moose nor an Aaron to be found. However, the story that has been making the rounds is that a cow moose was hanging out in the area so I grabbed my gear and headed into the woods. About 100 yards in I came across her bed. I stop for a few minutes listening for any sounds but nothing was happening but some bone-chilling wind.
I moved on through the brush and some pines only to discover another bed about 50 feet from the first. There were fresh droppings on the ground. Again I stopped and listened, but again, nothing. With just a very light snow cover on the ground, I picked up her prints and followed them a short distance to a ski trail where, once again, I stopped and listened. Again, nothing.
I moved a short distance down the trail, farther into the woods. Again, nothing. I stood around
moose eating lunch • click to embiggen for about 5 minutes and still it was still. So I figured I'd head up the trail towards the road and maybe Aaron might be around. Less than 20 yards up the trail, there she was just off the trail in a small clearing, munching on some lunch. We were separated by about 15 feet.
She glanced my way for a few seconds then when on about her business. I hung around for 10 minutes or so making pictures and just watching her. She was quite a sight. It took all of my wilderness ethics in order to resist the temptation to put on a wide angle lens and walk right up to her and take a close up of her nose. She was incredibly unfazed by my presence.
Which actually got me to thinking that maybe she's ill - there's some kind of brain worm disease
Looking up a moose nose • click to embiggen that they can contract. But, to be honest, I have never encountered a moose in the flesh prior to today so I have no idea whether this one looks healthy or not. She seemed very alert and focused.
In any event, it's great to verify in person that the moose are back. I turned back onto the trail and walked by her on the way out. At that point we were separated by only 6 feet and the bush she was munching on and I couldn't resist making a few more pictures.
moose
Reader Comments (3)
Way to go Mark. But did you ever find an Aaron?
Kent - yes, an Aaron was waiting for me at the road.
Amazing Mark...I'm heading out this weekend, that's all there is to it...gorgeous pics...best I've seen by far...you and Aaron are killing me with all your moose sightings...congrats!
James