Talk to me about the moose...

[daniellefort]

My husband has his first close encounter last winter on a snowmobile trail.

There were 4 snowmobilers all together and they came across a moose standing in the middle of the trail. They waited and when it appeared it wasn't moving, the first in line went around it. Then the second guy went around it. By now, the moose was getting irritated and stomping his foot down hard. The 3rd guy had to gun it by real fast as the moose was walking towards him. My husband being last in line took the brunt of the mooses' anger. It charged at him coming within an arms length of my husband so my husband just gunned it and turned away as fast as he could. He actually had to bend his head backwards as the moose went to headbutt him. This obviously was not a normal acting moose. It could have been sick or maybe it had a baby in the nearby woods protecting it so don't let this get you thinking it's always like that when you encounter a moose close up. Remember, their home is in the woods and your in THEIR territory.

[fishnfool]

This obviously was not a normal acting moose. It could have been sick or maybe it had a baby in the nearby woods protecting it so don't let this get you thinking it's always like that when you encounter a moose close up. Remember, their home is in the woods and your in THEIR territory.

Or it could have been that 4 guys on a snow mobiles got too close and made it feel threatened as they drove at it passing at high speed?

That sounds like normal behavior to me given the situation described. That's not what you want to do around a moose...or any large wild animal for that matter.

[DreamworksSKG]

its not good to hit your car with a moose, be careful when driving any time of day but especially at night. If you see a moose in the road , slow down and stop as best you can and let it cross

To see a moose why not find a place deep in the woods and erect a moose watching blind. I dont know if you can do this legally without owning the land or if you can get permission from the county or something to do so ? You might have to talk to some local hunting groups or something or some local town halls and see how you might be able to get a nature watching blind up somewhere or if there might be some already you can watch moose and other wildlife from at some of the state parks or something? Just an idea.

To see moose you might want to check out the White Mountain trails and the north country around COOS county

the COHOS Trail is particularly popular:
here's some links for the COHOS trail

The COHOS Trail - New Hampshire Cohos Trekker On Line
The COHOS Trail - Coos County, New Hampshire

COHOS trail map
The COHOS Trail - New Hampshire Cohos Trail Map

GORP - Thru-Hiker's Guide to America - Cohos Trail Introduction
Northern New Hampshire - Hiking the Cohos Trail

Hiking the Cohos Trail, New Hampshire - A1 Trails

greatnorthwoods.org - Cohos Trail
www.greatnorthwoods.org

You might also consider going on a guided Moose tour


Dan's Scenic Moose Tours
Moose Tours - DAN'S SCENIC TOURS, LLC, North Conway, Gorham & Jackson, New Hampshire

Maine Moose tours
Maine Moose Safaris, Moose Tours in Maine and Wildlife Tours Moosehead Lake, Greenville, Maine

Route 3 - Pittsburg - to the Canadian Border is known as "Moose Alley"
Moose Alley - New Hampshire's Moose Alley is One of New England's Best Places to See Moose

Where to see moose - NH
Where to see moose - N.H. Fish and Game

Moose Tours
North Conway
Moose Tours in Mt. Wasington Valley - North Conway, New Hampshire

Enjoy! :-)

[ladibelle]

I had one in my front yard. I thought it was a funny looking horse with long ears until I got a closer look. I didn't dare to leave my home until it walked away.

[darylyh]

Originally Posted by fishnfool

I'd be curious to hear the stories you're hearing.

Some of the stories I've been reading (not hearing first hand) are like those mentioned up-thread from Alaska. Having encountered black bear on trails more than once with no warning, I was somewhat concerned by the moose, since they're so incredibly large and powerful (and an unknown to me).

This thread is very helpful, all the way around. I really appreciate the responses (and the links and suggestions as well!).

[daniellefort]

[quote=fishnfool;10103884]Or it could have been that 4 guys on a snow mobiles got too close and made it feel threatened as they drove at it passing at high speed? QUOTE]

They were not going high speed (like some snowmobiliers do). The president of the Snowmachine club and trail groomer was the leader and knows how to react in these kind of situations so as not to scare the moose. He's the one who said something was definitely wrong with this moose as he's encountered many moose while grooming the trails. They had stopped waiting for it to move and after 2 or 3 minutes of just watching the moose, they slowly went around it. It wasn't until the 3rd person in line had to gun it because the moose was starting to come to him which probably aggravated it to the point of being in a charging mode but i don't think anyone else would have done anything different than they did given the situation. We are all animal lovers and love to watch them in the natural environment and would never intentionally disturb the moose.

[fishnfool]

He definitely has more experience than me when it comes to those situations so if he thought something was odd about it then it probably was.....like I said I've only seen them from the roadside.

[greenmartian]

I posted this in the thread I started about Moose Alley but here it is again for those who might have missed that one:

AnimalTourism.com: Moose Alley, NH Tips: 10 Things Locals Won't Tell You

[callmechaz]

I live deep in the Northwoods of Maine. Most of my neighbors are moose and black bear. I seek them out for photography on a regular basis. I use a telephoto lens, but am often within 30 yards of either species.







In general, moose are quite peaceful animals. Bulls have no qualms about walking within spitting distance of me when photographing them along roads. Cows regularly parade their young within 10 yards of me when I am photographing them. I don't move toward them when they are that close, but I never felt a need to retreat. Others will flush and run as soon as they see you.

That said, I don't ever get between adults and their offspring. With any large animal, don't block their way of escape or passage. Look for signs of irritation (such as the foot stomping mentioned by the snowmobilers) and retreat quietly. And as others said, I wouldn't deliberately agitate a bull moose in rut.