Slide Show

 Moose Courtship       John Burke sent these photos of "moose courtship." He wrote: "I was fortunate to witness this moose courtship scene at Stump Pond, just off the main dirt road in Baxter State Park, Maine. October is the height of the "rutting" season, when moose breed, and the animals can be quite unpredictable, territorial, and aggressive during this time. In the second image, the cow comes running out of the woods into the water with the bull close behind. She was vocal for a few minutes, giving a loud, high-pitched call while twirling in the pond. The two moose then slowly swam across the pond towards the shore. When they reached the shore, they paused for over half an hour, eating and resting. Eventually both crossed the road and disapeared into the adjacent woods."

The captions are ours.

The players: a handsome bull and a beautiful cow.