Moose on the loose
Yesterday,while driving home, I spotted a moose, munching away on the green grass at the edge of the road. I stopped and took a few photos, but it was late in the day, and they didn’t come out well with my little digital camera. I was telling a neighbor of mine, Linda Pearson, about it, and she told me how she had two calves in her back yard just a couple of weeks ago. She sent me some photos, which she is allowing me to share here. Thanks Linda!
I have often seen moose scat on our hikes, and I wondered how far into Colorado they have come. I checked out the website for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and found that they were introduced into Northern Colorado just under 30 years ago. In that initial introduction there were 4 bulls and 8 cows; one with a calf. Today the population numbers about 1000 animals and they are very common in Summit County. They can be agressive, especially in the fall during rutting season. Below, compliments of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, is a translation of moose language, just so you know what to look for.
Moose-English dictionary
- Ears up = Alert and curious
- Ears low and float = Angry
- Roar = Upset
- Snort = Angry
- Bleating = Moose calf calling to its mother
- Grunt, whine and moan = Baby, I’m a want you
My daughter took some photos in our back yard last fall of a male and female, and the male was making quite a show, scraping his antlers against trees and beating the bushes. She decided it was best not to get too close!
Linda had several photos of the young moose eating while down on their knees like this, and I am assuming their legs are too long for them to reach the ground. If their food happens to be a bit higher off the ground, like her aspen trees, they are happy.
May 6th, 2007 at 7:48 am
I was in Yellowstone National Park a few years ago hoping that I would see a Moose. I didn’t know we had some in Colorado. That is great news. I’ll keep my eyes peeled next time I’m in your neck of the woods!
January 4th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
[…] abounds, with fox being seen on a regular basis. We often see moose in the spring, and bear, usually in the fall. We have seen racoon (photo taken on my deck one […]