Inktrails from Alaska

Can You Find The Moose?

Last night we had to run back into the house when we heard something very large crunching the snow and breaking branches. We RAN back to the house, and the dogs had to hold it until this morning.

I scanned the area for moose this morning, and not seeing any, took the dogs out to their yard and all missions were accomplished, including barking, playing and general running around. We had just gotten into the house when my neighbor texted me that there were two moose in her driveway, which is also my driveway. Within five minutes the mama moose was in my yard, munching on willows. I never even saw the calf.

Then she stepped into the woods, to continue browsing.

Can you find her?

 

Moose think dogs should be destroyed. All dogs are considered "wolves" by moose. And wolves eat lots of calves (as do bears). I've been chased twice by moose while I was with one or both of my dogs.

What's it like to have 2000 lbs. of hairy madness behind you while you run? Well, remember that scene in Jurassic Park where the people are being chased by a T-rex? It's very much like that. Except they had a jeep!

More Moose

Norwegian Elkhounds are dogs used to hunt moose in Norway, Sweden and Finland. My dog, Ole, does a great job of alerting for most moose near the house. And the great thing is that he does a couple BIG ARFS and then shuts up. Sofia doesn't say anything at all unless she can really get a good look at the moose and then she yodels. There have been plenty of moose that have been by when Ole hasn't alerted, or we haven't been home. The yard is like one giant Moose Highway.

This year my yard has been filled tracks, and yet I'd seen no moose. I began to suspect they were all wearing white ninja suits. I think I saw two moose all winter and those not in my yard. So I'm glad they finally took off their ninja suits and have come to visit. Plus it's nice to have brush cut for free.

Ms. Moose was back again today, or her sister. It's hard to tell them apart.These are pictures from yesterday, since I didn't have time to post them until today.

Click on these images to get the full sized picture!

 

Please excuse my dirty window, it's not exactly window washing temperature outside. And the finger in the lens, I was trying to get situated.

See that gate? That's the gate to the dog yard. Now you can see why I desperately need a back door, so I don't have to walk down that path, in deep snow just to take the dogs out.

A Short Walk in the Snow

After a week of tremendous snowfall, the dogs and I decided it was time to go play in the snow. Unfortunately my iPhone crashed and I lost all the nice videos of them playing in 2—3 feet of fresh snow. But yesterday I managed to shoot video of us walking from the dog yard back to the house, just to give you a little scenery and see into my daily routine.

It's been Moose Central here for a while. Yesterday I came home from work and saw so many moose tracks you could hardly see all the dog and human footprints! You'd think they were having some kind of convention. I don't mind as long as we aren't in the yard at the same time the moose are.

In this video on the left you can see some of the places the moose have walked through the deep snow. Sofia checks out some of those tracks on the way up the hill.

I'm obviously not going to be driving the Toyota any time soon. I was scraping her off fairly often just in case I needed her, but clearly I got behind!

There will be more pictures...I just need to find time to get them posted!