What Is That?

Spotting a moose flinging antlers up out of a Denali pond, vegatation hanging from his mouth, has the opposite effect of viewing a grizzly. Here, people want to laugh, and in doing so perpetuate the Bullwinkle myth.

It is true the goofy, ungainly, largest member of the deer family fits well into cartoons, the opening credits of Northern Exposure, or make the news by cooling off in a backyard wading pool in suburban Anchorage. However, the Alaskan moose can stand 7 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder, and weigh up to1800 pounds. If threatened, the seemingly docile beast can also become a force to be reckoned with.

Watching Alces alces in their natural habitat of Denali one quickly realizes they are superbly built for life in the north. Long legs make it possible to wade through snowdrifts and shallow lakes in search of aquatic plants. The oversize nose and ears keep them alert to ever-present predators.

What fascinates me the most is how moose can prance through tight standing thickets of willow, with antlers that can span over six feet wide.