Moose!

I have always thought of Moose as majestic creatures. Powerful, large, and elusive. They are the giant herbivores grazing on water weeds that complete the rustic pond scene. Gentle giants. Living in the lower 48 I felt lucky to see one. I recall my friend Amanda and I hiking in VT on a logging road and coming upon a moose during the rut. He snorted and we mindfully backed up the direction we came.  Moose = Cool, formidable, giant, magical mammals.

Then I moved to Alaska. Moose are all of the above, but my perspective has changed. Now I also think of them as a great food source (Moose meat is quite delicious if you are a carnivore) and dangerous.

Turns out in Alaska a person is more apt to be injured by a Moose than a bear. Not because they are more dangerous, because their population is bigger. Moose generally have a passive demeanor, unless provoked.

Let me tell you what provokes a moose…. Dogs.

Yes – dogs love to chase Moose. If your dog team gets a whiff of a Moose – watch out! I learned this lesson THE FIRST DAY I went out mushing by myself! Can you say baptism by fire……

Mary would grill me when we were driving “What would you do if you ran into a moose with the dog team?” “Uh…. slam on the break” …”and do you think that will hold a team…”…. “OK, tie off the sled, try to settle them down… hold them back from chasing”. ALL good thoughts when theoretically talking about it, but on the trail it happens in a split second.

So there I was…. first time taking a dog by myself on the trails around Mary’s house. Kind of a big deal as I would have only myself to rely on.  There was a sunny blue sky and it was pleasantly cold. I chose Two Sweet for my first run. She has experience, she’s a little older, likely won’t go to fast and I’m hoping would follow some commands.  After all her name is Too Sweet, right?

We start off down the trail.  It’s white and quiet. Two Sweet is actually pulling me! I swear she is having fun… I know I am. The sled is floating along, I can’t believe we are doing it! I’m mushing! Standing on the runners, a little wind in my face, It feels good. Two Sweet hasn’t run at ALL this season so after about a mile she has slowed down. I give a kick here and there to keep the sleds momentum. She starts exercising her “dogtude” which means slowing down to sniff something or not turning the direction I request. Sometimes she just stops and I about run her over with the sled. I am doing my best to coax, encourage, praise her… anything to keep moving cause we have a second mile to go. Her tongue is out and I have some compassion since I know what the first jog of the season feels like after winter. She just about has me convinced that I’ve pushed her too hard on this first day when BAM – she smells a moose and that girl unleashes her power! She went from 0 to 60 in an instant!   My body reacted from instinct or sheer will to survive. The sled jolted forward – I grabbed the handlebar and jumped on the break while a few choice expletives shot from my lips. I think we bolted about 30 feet before the brake stopped her. But it stopped her! My heart pounding in my ears and throat – eyes wide with shock – body shaking, I look up to see the big cow darting off into deeper brush.  Now it registers with me just how lucky I am that this moose did what YOU WANT a moose to do – turn and run.

Moose get used to the dogs, in fact as the season progresses they get less scared and less tolerant of the dogs. Moose become ornery, particularly if its a hard winter and they are struggling to find enough food. I understand, I get ornery when I’m hungry too. Moose will attack dogs or defend themselves. They will stomp or use their hooves which can do horrific damage. There are stories of mushers losing a dog or dogs to a moose fight. Mary has a crazy story of having to hit a Moose in the head with an axe when it came busting into her dog team!

This first day would only be the beginning of my run ins with Moose. I am so grateful to say that none ended in the demise of me, the sled or the dogs. This year I am lucky.

Below are some pictures I took of Moose in summer 2015 – in Denali National Park.  A few cool moose facts: Mature males can weigh up to 1,500 lbs. The antlers can span up to 6 feet wide. How’s that for having a strong neck!

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Want more Moose Facts: http://www.livescience.com/27408-moose.html