Alaska bear food....

[IPT]

Mother nature is so harsh sometimes isn't she? Then again she is delicate and soft sometimes too. Lucky for me (and you I guess) this is one of the softer moments. Statistcally only one of these guys will make it, but they were currently both alive and well!

I had to fight the skeeters and harsh light that were oh so evident. All in all though I am happy to get these images. I've been in AK 7 years and there have only been a handfull of times I've seen moose this young and I never had my camera. Not that I did this time either...I had to go home and get it (I was mtn biking and thankfully only a few blocks from my house in Midtown BTW when I saw them at first walking along the side of the road). The conditions were less than optimal but really isn't that so often the case? I was happy that Momma was quite tolerant of me with her ears giving me the thumbs up nearly the entire time (though I kept quite a buffer...you do NOT want a Momma Moose with Calves thinking you are a threat - people have literally been killed).

 

[IPT]

 

[Reef Bass]

Awwwwww geeeeeeee so cuuuuuuute!

Nice job Louis. I like #3 and 4 best. The light is harsh but the meese (plural of moose, right? I mean goose, geese, so moose, meese) look properly exposed.

 

[SKremk]

Very cool. I spend a lot of time up in Idaho and Montana with my family and I've never seen moose this young. Great shots!

 

[Recty]

Very nice. We saw a newborn set of twins this weekend too and of course I didnt have my camera, my friend had his cheapo point and shoot but it just isnt the same!

I like the lighting in a couple of those shots where the vegetation is really really light, it's a neat look.

 

[IPT]

Thanks guys - they are super cute! Weeks old at most. Yeah, the exposure was tough with the moose being dark and the tall grasses so light. The latitude was too broad really but I opted for overexposed grass to get details in the moose fur.

RB - the plural of Moose, is actually Moose. Though your logic makes sense regarding the plural, the english language does NOT make sense....

 

[Reef Bass]

Yeah thanks, I know, just being a dufus.

Keep the pics coming!

 

[PSam]

Nice captures IPT! Those little ones are great! I came across a female and young (but much older than those) on the Alagnak and could not believe how large it was. I mean, I realized they were big, but seeing one standing up while we were passing in a little boat was quick to put it in perspective.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Nice find!

 

[IPT]

PSam - they are HUGE. Not to brag, but Alaskan Moose are the largest Moose in the world apparently. I am 6'3 and sit up high on my MTN bike yet I have passed moose that were way taller than me.

Want an example....here you go. As far as Moose go I find them usually to be fairly predictable. Still, there are limits in my mind. Well, during the rut (when Moose can be unpredictable) I was taking shots one morning and was hiking out of a trail as another photog was hiking in. A lot of Moose had bedded down and I went off the trail to keep a buffer, and not disturb them. I told this dude there were a few next to the trail. He acknowledged, and then walk right next to them anyway. Close enough to disturb them and make them stand up. A - I think he was an idiot and taking a completely unnecesary risk, and B - he was disturbing wildlife which as a general rule (even when photographing) I try not to do. My opinion and own "ethics" if you will. Still it made for a pretty cool photo op!

Then this blurry one (because it was early in the AM, my gear wasn't ready, and I just fired off the shot and image stabilization was just not enough....)

Please note as well that even though these were taking in the fall neither of these guys have impressive racks. They are both young dudes and will likely get even bigger over the years

 

[Reef Bass]

Some people...

Many years ago while trail riding with my parents we were charged by a bull moose. We came upon a pond with mom and calf wading in enjoying their water greens. While we were appreciating the visuals, a large bull moose took exception to our presence and charged us. I was happy to instruct my horse to move quickly to the other side of the field. My dad was taking pictures and I don't know if he was being brave or stupid or simply unaware of how close the moose was while looking through his viewfinder. The bull moose did stop shortly before plowing my dad's horse over but it was an impressive display. Dad looked up like "what's all the commotion?" He (and my brother) have both climbed Mt Everest so it takes a bit to phase him (check out www.2001everest.com).

 

[IPT]

That's awesome - you didn't get in for the climb? I hear even trekking to basecamp is amazing. Could've got some awesome shots.

Man, one time I was following this bull around during the rut. After a while he figured i was challenging him and started to grunt and tilt his head side to side, pretty much showing off his rack. That's when I conceded that my presence was no longer welcome and gently left the area .

 

[Reef Bass]

Smart move. I am a firm believer that animals pretty clearly broadcast their intent. We humans are just not always good at perceiving them.

 

[IPT]

My friends wife is . She apparently was biking to work on the trail the other day and ran into these guys. They wouldn't budge and she had to back-track and take another route to work. Makes me laugh because one other day she was late because a family of geese wouldn't yield the trail to her. Only in Alaska is an excuse of a Moose or Geese blocking the trail an accpetable reason as to why you were late to work!

 

[IPT]

So, I saw another "little one" tonight. Course, no camera! You'd think I'd know to carry my P&S by now even when I go out for a quick ride. Poor little dude.... Mom crossed the creek. He was standing on the other side wondering what to do. I stopped a little bit down the trail to observe hsi (maybe) first crossing.....then it got interesting. Mom was munching on some greens on my side of the creek and the baby was contemplating what to do. Then a Kayaker came floating along. He freaked, he freaked out momma moose who went spalshing into the creek and then up the bank...toward me...I bolted, so did the little one the other side of the creek. We were going about the same speed accross from one another for a bit. I decided to just keep on riding and on the return trip none were around. Man I love ths place!

 

[Reef Bass]

Good story. I confess I giggled some picturing what you described. Too bad the kayaker freaked. In a kayak he might have been able to slip quietly through the scene. The energy we project can strongly influence animals' reactions to us. Freaking is rarely a good thing.

I can imagine the kayaker went home and told his buddies about being charged by an angry moose protecting its young and how only he only barely escaped sure death by tapping into his primal self. :lol:

 

[IPT]

I think he totally could have slipped by. Though on a bike you can acclerate a lot better than in a kayak if things go awry. Momma was actualy pretty mellow though. ALert, but mellow, until he started backpaddling and going "oh #$$@@$" - then she spoked.
It was wuite the scene .

 

[cdness]

Moose are awesome animals. They are pretty rare around here now but there are still some running around. There are more up in the northern Minnesota areas.

I know when my mother was on a drive there was a moose that wouldn't leave the road and when she tried to go around (after taking pictures of course) the moose walked right up to her car and stood there blocking her path. She backed up and the moose eventually left so she could keep driving.

 

[IPT]

Late at night driving in the backroads for Northern Lights images I've had a car vs moose stand off a few times. Sometimes they just do not want to budge. Then again, if I had the choice to stand on a plowed road verse in several feet of snow I'd probably not want to move either .

 

[IPT]

you all seen these images? Totally insane!

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/moose.asp