The moose of 2015

[thistlebloom]

As much asI love the photoos moose are supposed to be so dangerous. Are you staying safe when taking these photos? do they eat your garden? So cut.

Yes moose can be surly and I'm staying well back. That's partly why the pictures aren't sharp, had to use the digital zoom.

Mamas with babies and bulls during the rut are probably the red alert times.

They actually have never shown any aggressiveness toward people while on our property, but barking dogs are something they'll definitely take exception to and turn into toe jam. My dogs know not to harass them and will either slink into their dog run or try to press their body molecules through the sliding glass door until I let them in.

One year we had a bull that hung around the horse corral for 3 days that I couldn't avoid getting within 20 feet of. I had to take care of the animals, so I walked calmly and tried to keep as many trees between us as I could. He just stood still ignoring me.

One thing is for sure, you don't shoo a moose away. They are big and very confident. You do things on their terms. They don't like harassment, or what they interpret as harassment.

 

[thistlebloom]

As far as the garden is concerned, I get more damage from deer. And we don't have a big problem with deer out here. Not like in town.

The moose do browse the tips of my shrubs and trees, but if I remember to spray Plantskydd on them in the fall they'll leave them alone.

I did have a mama year before last bring her twins for a drink out of the bird bath, and then they walked down the pepper row and nibbled the leaves off the tops. But it didn't hurt the peppers.

 

[Smart Red]

"..... will either slink into their dog run or try to press their body molecules through the sliding glass door until I let them in." Thistlebloom

Great description! I love the mental picture of that happening.

 

[digitS']

There is a difference in tolerance.

I'm delighted with most birds, altho' watch Maggie Pie's with suspicion; barely tolerant of chipmunks; cottontails I leave alone out of respect for my neighbors' appreciation; and a deer foraging in my garden I'd want to turn into summer sausage!

A moose would send me into a blind panic! I'd be more pleased to see a catamount.

Steve

 

[Smart Red]

Steve, you are great at expanding our knowledge base. I had (of course) to look up catamount. Nope! I'll take the moose any day over something that might eat my chickens, pets, and grandbabies.

 

[thistlebloom]

I'm not tolerant of deer, even though they aren't a bad pest in my personal gardens. I have to wage war with them in my clients gardens though, and that has soured me on all of them.

I should add that the the pepper nibbling trio walked politely to the side of the bed in the path. You can imagine what a 1000 lb. plus footprint would do to a veg garden!

 

[Carol Dee]

@Jeni Ann would you like to tell the Moose in the BWCA story? Since you thought it was FUNNY.

 

[thistlebloom]

@Jeni Ann would you like to tell the Moose in the BWCA story? Since you thought it was FUNNY.

Yeah, c'mon @Jeni Ann !

 

[Jeni Ann]

Carol Dee wanted to take a photo of a moose which was posing nicely for her about knee deep in a lake ... her eldest son obliged her by paddling their canoe closer to said moose ... and closer ... and closer ... and closer! We were far enough away that we couldn't hear what was being said, but Carol Dee kept turning towards her son and saying something. Then taking another photo. Then turning back to the paddler. Pretty soon you could tell that the paddler was laughing and Carol Dee was looking agitated and maybe even paddling backwards ... the moose was looking very interested in this oncoming canoe. Everyone escaped without being stomped & It was funny to watch. From a distance
PS. Carol Dee's eldest son is ornery.

 

[thistlebloom]

Haha! That's funny!

Umm, just what was that conversation Carol Dee?