Recent Blogs
Blog Archive
A Close Encounter of the Ungulate Kind
Blog Archive
Thursday, October 9th, 2008
A Close Encounter of the Ungulate Kind
My friend, Carol, has granted me permission to share her moose story and photos. I mentioned her encounter in a blog of Steve's and shared Steve's photo with Carol.
Here's the story (in Carol's words):
On our first trip to Alaska we decided to rent bikes and ride down the coastal trail. Not far from downtown Anchorage we saw a number of cars pulled over on the side of the road just on the other side of a strip of woods so we decided there must be a moose lurking somewhere. We walked on a small path through the strip of woods and sure enough, there he was - the most majestic bull moose we could ever have dreamed to see. So, of course, we joined the numerous other gawkers trying to get photos.
Bullwinkle (as we called him) was perfectly content to let everyone get their photos. Then he decided to stroll across the street behind a van that we were standing by. My husband wanted one last photo with me in the picture. You can probably tell I was slightly nervous.
Right after he snapped the photo, Bullwinkle decided it was time to leave -- so he ran right towards us. He wasn't mad -- just decided he had had enough of these crazy tourists. I jumped behind the van - my husband ran into a small clump of trees - and Bullwinkle ran right down the path we had walked on - maneuvered between our bikes and then ran back across the road and into the woods. It was a great experience - but I think I don't need to see anymore real live moose at close range for the rest of my lifetime.
Thanks, Carol, for sharing the story. I remember, knowing you, how I laughed when I read this and thought about you and Dick bolting from a moose. Glad you both made it through without any injuries and have the photos to share with your friends. Too bad Dick isn't in the photo too--it would make a great one for the Christmas letter! :)
A Close Encounter of the Ungulate Kind
My friend, Carol, has granted me permission to share her moose story and photos. I mentioned her encounter in a blog of Steve's and shared Steve's photo with Carol.
Here's the story (in Carol's words):
On our first trip to Alaska we decided to rent bikes and ride down the coastal trail. Not far from downtown Anchorage we saw a number of cars pulled over on the side of the road just on the other side of a strip of woods so we decided there must be a moose lurking somewhere. We walked on a small path through the strip of woods and sure enough, there he was - the most majestic bull moose we could ever have dreamed to see. So, of course, we joined the numerous other gawkers trying to get photos.
Bullwinkle (as we called him) was perfectly content to let everyone get their photos. Then he decided to stroll across the street behind a van that we were standing by. My husband wanted one last photo with me in the picture. You can probably tell I was slightly nervous.
Right after he snapped the photo, Bullwinkle decided it was time to leave -- so he ran right towards us. He wasn't mad -- just decided he had had enough of these crazy tourists. I jumped behind the van - my husband ran into a small clump of trees - and Bullwinkle ran right down the path we had walked on - maneuvered between our bikes and then ran back across the road and into the woods. It was a great experience - but I think I don't need to see anymore real live moose at close range for the rest of my lifetime.
Thanks, Carol, for sharing the story. I remember, knowing you, how I laughed when I read this and thought about you and Dick bolting from a moose. Glad you both made it through without any injuries and have the photos to share with your friends. Too bad Dick isn't in the photo too--it would make a great one for the Christmas letter! :)
Nope, Niki, just up close and maybe too personal with "Bullwinkle".
I didn't get to see Moose though or even shot wolves from a helicopter? What's up with that?
Denny - moose, caribou, elk, and deer have antlers. Rams, sheep, goats, cattle and bison have horns. Antlers are shed every year, horns are permanent, except for pronghorns.
When I lived in Colorado, I used to run around Lake Estes in the mornings. One morning I made the mistake of ignoring the "Beware of Mother Elk" signs. (They were a bit more technical than that, but you get the gist.) I ran upon an elk and her calf...oops. I tried to sneak away, but that wasn't happening. I was spotted and was chased into a laundromat at the top of the hill. It was terrifying at the time, but it's a great story to tell now.