The Moose of the Mountain

They pass through the seasons like ghosts,

seen yet never fully grasped,

their presence too vast, too ancient

for a single moment to hold.

A mother steps carefully,

two calves at her side,

twins bound by birth and instinct,

learning the language of the forest.

Another season, another mother—

a sow guiding her young,

teaching survival with every measured step.

The bull and his son meet in the clearing,

heads low, antlers clashing—

not in fury, but in lesson.

The father knows the weight of the wild,

teaching strength, teaching control,

teaching what it means to be moose.

Through spring’s tender green,

through summer’s thick heat,

through autumn’s gold and winter’s hush,

they move,

silent but certain,

shaping the trails as they go.

Some come close, curious,

sniffing the trail camera,

grazing without care—

a moment of nearness before

they fade again into shadow.

One passes with a wild glint in his eye,

as if holding some untold secret

only the forest understands.

Antlers rise like twisted crowns,

each stage a testament to time—

velvet-soft in youth,

broad and battle-worn with age,

then lost to the earth before I can find them.

Somewhere, they lie hidden,

a piece of the moose the woods will keep.

I watch, I wait,

I witness.

They are beyond majestic,

beyond words,

a presence so vast it humbles.

Among bears, bobcats, coyotes, and deer,

they are the mountain’s true giants,

moving through time,

untouched,

eternal.

The Moose Is Loose: From Bullwinkle to the Backwoods

The first moose I ever encountered wasn’t in the wild but on television. As a child of the mid-sixties, I grew up watching The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, where Bullwinkle, the lovable, goofy moose, left a lasting impression. My early moose-related memories also include owning a Molson beer sticker and T-shirt in the 1980s that read "The Moose is Loose", a fitting slogan for an animal that embodies both the untamed wilderness and Canadian culture.

Despite this, I had never actually seen a real moose. Growing up in New York City and later raising my kids in Connecticut, moose weren’t part of the landscape. Even on a camping trip to Mount Katahdin, where my friend kept mistaking deer for moose, the legendary giant of the forest remained elusive. Technically, moose are the largest member of the deer family, but what we saw that day was definitely not a moose.

That changed eight years ago when we moved to New Hampshire. Suddenly, moose sightings became part of our lives. My husband and daughter once saw one running through the woods while riding snowmobiles. More recently, my husband and our dog Marley, while patrolling our Class 6 road, watched as a moose crossed the trail heading down toward the lake.

And then there are the trail cameras.

A Window into the World of Moose

Through our trail cams, we’ve been able to observe these incredible animals in ways we never could otherwise. We’ve seen:

A mother moose leading her twin calves through the woods.

A father and son moose playfully locking antlers, the older one teaching the younger how to fight.

Moose sniffing the cameras up close, unaware (or unbothered) by the human technology capturing their every move.

A lone moose walking past, giving the lens that wild, crazy-eyed look.

Pairs of older twin siblings still trotting through the trees together, years after being born.

Seeing them in perspective to other wildlife—bears, bobcats, deer, coyotes—makes one thing abundantly clear: moose are massive. You can check out a lot these within the poem above and more wildlife videos - on my YouTube TrailCam Playlist

The Giants of the North

A fully grown moose stands between 7 and 10 feet tall (2.1 to 3 meters) at the shoulder, weighing anywhere from 800 to 1,500 pounds (360 to 680 kg). Their sheer size dwarfs every other animal in the northern forest areas in North America, Europe, and Russia where they are found.

Moose have distinct calving, rutting, and wintering areas, and their movement patterns vary—some travel only a few miles, while others may cover over 60 miles (96 km) in search of food and shelter. They are strict herbivores, consuming around 71 pounds (32 kg) of food daily, favoring the high-sugar twigs of white birch, trembling aspen, and striped maple trees.

But surviving in the wilderness isn’t just about being big—it’s about being built for the environment.

Masters of the Cold and Snow

Moose are perfectly adapted to the extreme northern climate. Their insulating fur is made up of a double-layered coat, allowing them to withstand brutal temperatures as low as -22ºF (-30ºC). Unlike many other animals, their massive bodies prevent them from losing heat too quickly in the frigid months.

Their long legs, coupled with broad, powerful hooves, enable them to navigate deep snow up to 36 inches (91 cm) and traverse rugged mountain terrain—just like the landscape surrounding our home.

To cope with the harsh winters, moose rely on an internal survival mechanism: a changing metabolism. They have a specialized second stomach (rumen chamber) that allows them to digest the tough, woody materials available in winter, sustaining themselves until new growth returns in the spring.

Moose and Their Predators

Despite their massive size, moose still face natural predators. These include:

Wolves – One of the primary pack-hunting threats to moose.

Bears – Both black and grizzly bears will prey on young or weak moose.

Wolverines – Though small in comparison, wolverines have been known to take down moose when conditions favor them.

Cougars – In some regions, mountain lions pose a threat to moose populations.

Humans – Hunting and habitat loss remain major factors affecting moose populations.

To avoid predation, moose often seek refuge in marshes and lakes, where their size and swimming ability give them an advantage. Unlike deer, they are strong swimmers and can use water as a natural barrier against threats.

A Life in Awe of Moose

The more I watch these creatures, the more I am humbled by them. They are beyond majestic—there simply isn’t a word that captures their presence accurately. Seeing them in the wild, whether trotting through the woods, locking antlers, or simply standing still in their massive silence, is an experience that makes you feel small in the best possible way.

Every time I see a moose, whether on a snowmobile ride, a quiet walk, or through the lens of a trail cam, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live among them. In their quiet, powerful way, moose are not just animals of the forest—they are the forest.

And I am grateful to be a witness.

Want to Learn More About Moose?

Many of these facts come from excellent wildlife organizations and research sources. If you're as fascinated by moose as I am, you can explore more about their habits, adaptations, and conservation through these great resources:

National Park Service – Moose Facts

National Geographic – Moose Facts

National Wildlife Federation – Moose

Each of these sources offers incredible insights into the lives of these massive, awe-inspiring animals. Happy exploring!

"All videos featured in this piece come from the many trail cameras, capturing these incredible moments right here in our woods of New Hampshire."