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(January, 2007) "I had a most interesting moose encounter, so to speak, on one of the day trails in Ontario Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park. Hiking through Mizzy Lake Trail we came upon a long decomposed carcus of a moose. The skin and other tissue were long gone but the bones and hair remained layed out in the exact position the moose probably layed down and died in. That in itself was quite interesting to see all the bones and thick course hair, but the really interesting and somewhat confusing part involed the many piles, old and new, of moose droppings that totally surrounded the moose bones. It was like other moose came to this spot regularly to pay some kind of respect to the fallen moose. Either that or he wasn't a very well liked moose. I have never seen anything like it before or after. I wish I would of had my camera but I did not. Kelly."

Mooseworld: Research at the Amboseli Elephant Research Project in Nairobi, Kenya has shown that elephants, unlike other animals, have a special interest in the dead. They "investigate elephant bones and tusks and can even distinguish elephant skulls from those of other species," according to a report on National Geographic News. The report went on to say that "this [finding] previously had only been answered using anecdotes and chance observations." Kelly may have provided anecdotal evidence for moose.

"My husband, two of my boys, and I were driving to Ludlow, Vermont this past Saturday night and we were only about 5-8 miles from our destination. I commented how I would love to see a moose. I then started to fall asleep while my husband drove. As I began to knod off, my husband hit me and said 'Wake Up! Your going to get your wish!' There was a very large bull moose crossing the road right in front of us! We had to skid to a stop to avoid him. He turned to look at our pickup and then fell in the excitement of trying to get away. It really was awsome to see this majestic animal. Teresa."

Mooseworld: We're glad the moose is OK after the skid and slip—and that you got your wish.

"The moose last seen in East Fishkill, New York was here in Kent, New York yesterday (December 9, 2006). Named "Alice" by our neighborhood columnist, Lynn Greenwood, Alice literally stopped traffic on Farmers Mills Rd. We hope this girl moves north and finds a partner soon—it's going to be a cold winter! Sue."

Mooseworld: She will do fine. If it's a beautiful New York winter she will be Alice in Wonderland.

"My wife and I were driving back to Massachusetts from Maine late the other night [August, 2006], and I was lamenting yet another trip without seeing a moose, feeling that I would never get to see one. But, when we were within 20 minutes of home, driving along the western edge of the Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts, our attention was drawn to a peculiar shadow along the roadside. We turned the car around and found an antlerless moose casually browsing the roadside shoots and grasses, just far enough off the road to be nearly invisible to passers-by, blending in against the dark edge of the woods. It didn't seem to acknowledge us at all, nor the other cars whizzing by, except once when my camera chimed upon turning on. Unfortunately the moose was too far away for my flash to be effective, so I don't have any "hard evidence." The important part is that we both saw our first moose, and in our home state as well! Peter."

Mooseworld: We just saw 10 moose in Jackson Hole and the last sighting of a cow and small calf was at dusk. We were quite close but the camera's flash illuminated the foreground willows and not the moose. Only the "slow mode" allowed a decent photo. The evening before a well-equipped amateur was taking photos using a tripod and a setting to let in enough light—definitely the correct approach.

"At our cabin near Columbine Lake in Colorado, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, we see many moose. They love the lakes and wetlands in the area and there is a fairly sizeable population. Last Saturday (July 29, 2006) we were privileged to see a record nine different moose! We saw a cow with twin calves, two bull moose (twin brothers who always hang out together—we see "the boys" fairly frequently), another cow with a single calf and a male and female pair. In an area where moose spottings are pretty common, this was a quite a day and we called everyone we knew to tell them about it! Marion."

Mooseworld: We understand that there is an issue of culling about half the elk population of Rocky Mountain National Park. But Marion reports that moose are not overpopulated, with about 150 moose in Grand County and Rocky Mountain National Park.

"While visiting Maine's 'Forever Wild' Baxter State Park preserve last weekend (July 16, 2006), I spent more than 90 minutes watching a moose cow eat lunch. Initially I was only 10 feet away when I spotted her. I was putting in a canoe at a remote landing, and when I looked up, there she was. I immediately backed off to 25-30 feet, behind a large rack with five metal canoes, and set up to watch. After 10 or 15 minutes, I darted back close to her for the binoculars I'd left in the canoe. I was then able to keep distance and still see amazing detail, right down to flies on her eyelashes! She was quite happy pulling plants from the shallow stream bed for quite some time; meanwhile I warned off other paddlers. She was still there when I left after an hour and a half, but when I returned three hours after the original sighting, she'd moved on—and I finally put in my canoe! An amazing experience. Lisa."

Mooseworld: Is there any animal more content than a moose browsing in a pond?

"Recently we noticed a sign along Route 202 North heading between Belchertown, Massachusetts and New Salem. Having seen moose a couple of times before up North, I though "cool, moose down here in Massachusetts now," but I am sure we'll never see one. Wrong! Tonight around 10:30PM while driving home from New Hampshire on Route 202 South between the Quabbin overlook and Belchertown, we got up close and nearly personal with a bull moose with a huge rack that stood taller than our Chevy Tahoe. Luckily we swerved to the right and he decided to stop and head back to the left so neither of us are any worse for the encounter. He was beautiful, but heed those moose crossing signs! Erika."

Mooseworld: Cars tested in Scandinavia sometimes fail the "moose test," where the vehicle being tested has to swerve quickly to avoid a European Elk, which we call a moose. We're glad you and the moose passed the test.

"My daughter had told me that she and her friends had seen a moose downstreet in our little town of Waterbury, Vermont. She showed me where the moose had been spotted and I was envious and curious. While moose are spotted around Waterbury, I had not yet heard of one being sighted downtown. Yesterday (July 11, 2006) I was planting some flowers in my garden when a dog across the street began to bark. I looked up and saw a young bull moose crossing our street! It had apparantly walked through our yard before reaching the street. It must have just been exploring because there are no ponds here, just a small brook. It was in beautiful condition, young and small bodied, with a new little rack clearly visable. Luckily my neighbor also saw it or I might have thought I was day-dreaming! My dad, whose father had been "head moose" in Illinois years ago, has been in almost every state in the union but has yet to spot a moose! He was very envious! Jeanne"

Mooseworld: You saw what we allude to below: a young bull with young antlers. Thanks for sharing this story.

"21 June 06. My wife and I drove to Naples, Maine. I was doing some flying while my wife was shopping. She kept mentioning that she wanted to see a moose. I told her that due to the human encroachment, seeing one was unlikely. As we took a ride looking at some property we saw a young moose. He was just nibbling on some trees. Really capped off a great trip. Cheers, Jong."

Mooseworld: Whether you see one moose or many, you are always happy to have seen one.

"As I was driving home this evening I noticed an animal running down the road in front of my car. At first I thought it was a deer and then secondly a horse which wouldn't be at all unusual since I live about two hours out of New York City in an area called Smithfield Valley in Amenia, New York, proudly known for its fox hunting and large country horse farms. Horses are always getting loose, however, as I drove behind my fury friend, my car lights shone on its rear end and I noticed it was missing that familiar swishing tail and its ears stuck out so, I thought ... is this a big donkey?

As you can imagine moose just never entered my mind. I followed the animal slowly down the paved road as it kept up quite a frisky gait. As I got closer it turned several times looking back at me like a runner in a race; then I saw it! The unmistakable profile of ... Bullwinkle. I really thought I was seeing things. What is ironic is that my mom is from Berlin New Hampshire and I have heard stories about moose and sightings up there all my life. With all the time I've spent there on vacations to my Grandmother's not once had I ever laid eyes on a real live moose. Well that all changed tonight! My moose friend and I spent probably no more than a minute together, then he/she (it didn't have antlers) suddenly turned into a grassey road and trotted off into the woods seeming like it knew exactly where it was going. I couldn't wait to get home to Google the word "moose;" this is how I found your Web site. Your pictures proved that I did indeed see a moose in Dutchess County N.Y. Laurina."

Mooseworld: And at this time of year, unless it was a calf, what you saw was undoubtedly a cow since bulls are growing antlers (as they do anually).