Some images of the rare California Moose

“Many people don't realize there are moose in California. But there are. They are very secretive and shy and tend to be nocturnal, but with patience and determination and knowing the right spots, one can eventually see them.



I found this Sierran Moose in a secret spot in the Sierra as it crossed a remote river that shall remain nameless. I've been told less than 18 people have ever seen this magical place, much less a moose crossing here (not including Native Americans).





Out of necessity, the moose in the Sierra are excellent rock climbers. They climb like mountain goats yet retain their moose-like appearance. This one had just topped out over a cliff and she never saw me there with my camera. They get spooked very easily so you gotta be careful and veddy veddy sneaky if you want shots like these. I refuse to disclose the location of this image for fear it may become overrun with sightseers.





I shot this image at 14,000' up on Mt. Whitney. This is an extreeeemely rare habituated moose that the NPS will not talk about in public. It is very agressive. It charges hikers on the trail in hopes they'll drop their packs and run. It's best to go fetal and roll down the mountain, your odds of survival are greater than standing your ground. Notice the Sierran Moose all look oddly similar. These Sierran Moose are great for the bighorn sheep populations because they chase down and attack mountain lions and have become their chief food source. There ain't much grass up there.




Some California moose go predatory and once they get a taste of human flesh, there's no turning back. This moose was waiting for Lauri on Catalina Island during our honeymoon. I yelled for her to STOP! and threw rocks at the moose and she was saved just in time. Later that day I saw this same moose trotting down the beach with a baby in its mouth.





Lauri and I picked up a pigmy moose as a pet while in Mexico. They make wonderful pets and they mind very well. We were so excited we brought her along for the remainder of our honeymooon and rarely needed our moose leash.
last edited: 10/31/05 5:43:01 PM”

“What the heck???”

“LOL!”

“Dang! That exact same moose sure does get around! ;-)”

“It's not the exact same moose, ya right, come on, man. There's not really a viable reproducing population so all these moose are very closely related and thus look nearly identical. But if you took retina scans of each one, you could tell them apart.”

“oh please”

“i think these might be photoshopped”

“That first photo looks a whole lot like the MOST PHOTOGRAPHED SPOT out West! LOL.”

“LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm telling ya, Lauri must have the patience of a saint. ;)”

“I sure hope Lauri isn't a photoshop.

Buck just kills me! LOL!!!!!”

“I looked this whole moose thing up on snopes.com.

It's "FALSE".

Speaking of that ...

Just found this on there ...



I think I'd be peeing on the ceiling with them there.


last edited: 10/31/05 6:48:54 PM”

“LOL Buck you crack me up :) You libby you! :D”

“If you get a big green face above, click this instead ...

http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/sofitel.asp
last edited: 10/31/05 7:13:26 PM”

“I see the mooses!”

“Is it mooses, or moosi?”

“I think "moosi" is how French people say "thank you." The correct term is, of course, moosies.”

“I stand corrected...I see the moosies!”

“Unless they're females, then they're called moosettes.”

“Moosie beaucoup...”

“I think that Eugene has some pretty serious competition with that moose!!!”

“Goose is to one as Moose is to one.

Geese is to not one as Moose may or may not be to one.

How come there isn't a meese?”

“I'm with wolfeyes, i thinks that more than one moose is a meese. if there's more than two mooses, then you gots yourself a whole flock of meese.”

“A whole flock of you's?”

“I'm getting the flock out of here.”

“While on my thru hike I saw some of those in Maine. Could they have migrated?”

“That's a nice moose you've got there.”

“Amazing Moose pictures Buck...you sure are lucky! ;-)”

“Better seeing multiple moose vs. moose knuckles.....

Buck-- have you been sniffing Moose glue?

That's a pretty funny picture of the men's bathroom....”

“Yeah Phil, move over Eugene.”

“those moose need a new pose...they're striking the same one in every photo LOL”

“I just checked back through some pics from this past summer, and, sure enough (!), one of those Sierra moosies tried to get into our tent at Mosquito Lakes. But this one was a boy moose....

”

“Looks like I'm not the only one seeing Sierran Moose. Nice shot with the REI Half Dome tent. In moose country, like Mosquito Lakes, it's best to keep both tent doors open so the curious mooses can just walk on through. They're curious like cats. Don't leave the doors open at night, though. One morning I woke up with a large moose curled up, sleeping at my feet. Not that that's a bad thing, it was sorta cute, but it was laying on my feet and I couldn't move and I had to go pee really really bad. Also, one night I had left both tent doors open and a moose tried to walk through and the tent got caught on his antlers and I woke up the next morning 20 miles later. I wouldn't have minded because it was a beautiful spot, but the rest of my gear was back at camp. Just some helpful tidbits, use them as if you wish.”

“Oh my gosh!!! LOLOLOLOL


Okay, it's official. Buck, your TT posts are my most favorite!”

“I like how the moose has hidden himself with the leaves.”

“Damn that moose has somegood camoflage. No wonder the Cali moose is so rarely seen!”

“Actually, that's the even rarer Leafy Sierran Moose....”

“It was an interesting trip. We also saw a Bunyan's Giant Squirrel there:




While usually docile creatures, only moments before this photo was taken, it bit off both of BowlderSon's hands, which, fortunately, have since grown back.
last edited: 11/01/05 1:21:09 PM”

“LOL!! you people are nuts. you had me on that first pic Buck, but by the 3rd one or so i knew you were just funnin'...
;-D”

“I've SEEN that moose many times on my BP trips in the Sierra. In fact, he ate my dinner one night, it was Turkey Tetrazini as I recall.

Oh, wait.... this was supposed to be posted on the "what kind of drunk are you": thread.

Sorry for the confusion!”