2210_1832 Moose!
It was a 3-Moose day, and here are two of them. The rut was long past, but this big guy seemed to still be clinging to some fading hope: wherever the cow went, he followed.
I've already detailed my approach technique (under an earlier post - crawl, slither, keep behind cover, try not to jab any cactus thorns into left knee... well, two out of three isn't bad). This is an area thick with twiggy willow, ideal moose browse.
Only a few years ago there was standing water here, but several summers of drought have dried that up. Everyone is hoping for a return to the wet cycle. Farmers, ranchers, the moose and me.
The photo op ended when a third moose arrived in the vicinity - a cow. Cow 1 took exception to cow 2 and chased her off. The lone bull followed. Of course he did.
Since then we have had a ton of snow and plummeting temperatures, signalling the arrival of winter, for real, no kidding around this time. The roads remain good. The light wasn't good yesterday, but I returned to the park anyway, and the bull was present, although much farther away. He likes it there. I like him there. All is well on the northern prairie.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2210_1832 Moose!
It was a 3-Moose day, and here are two of them. The rut was long past, but this big guy seemed to still be clinging to some fading hope: wherever the cow went, he followed.
I've already detailed my approach technique (under an earlier post - crawl, slither, keep behind cover, try not to jab any cactus thorns into left knee... well, two out of three isn't bad). This is an area thick with twiggy willow, ideal moose browse.
Only a few years ago there was standing water here, but several summers of drought have dried that up. Everyone is hoping for a return to the wet cycle. Farmers, ranchers, the moose and me.
The photo op ended when a third moose arrived in the vicinity - a cow. Cow 1 took exception to cow 2 and chased her off. The lone bull followed. Of course he did.
Since then we have had a ton of snow and plummeting temperatures, signalling the arrival of winter, for real, no kidding around this time. The roads remain good. The light wasn't good yesterday, but I returned to the park anyway, and the bull was present, although much farther away. He likes it there. I like him there. All is well on the northern prairie.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.