Experience - Viewing Baby Moose

One of the cutest things in Alaska is a baby moose.  But standing very close-by is the most dangerous animal in Alaska; its mom.  Moose moms can weigh-in at as much as 1200 lbs.  Moose in Alaska usually give birth to twins and, at least in Homer, they are usually born from mid-May to early June.  Moose moms have babies every two years.  A few weeks before they give birth, the mother moose chases off her two year old(s); usually by then she only has one calf left.  So in April and May there are often a lot of confused and unhappy teenaged moose running around.

Moose give birth in a place they feel safe.  This used to mean in the middle of a pond or bog, but now that location is often in the middle of someone’s yard, a town park, or even (according to one story) a Walmart parking lot. 
According to some local friends of ours, the reason the moose are moving into town is the bears.  They wake up just in time to eat baby moose, so the moose have been giving birth near humans because we usually chase the bears away.

Needless to say, everyone with a camera is desperate to get a picture of the mom and her newborn calves.  This is great, but do it with a good telephoto lens.  If you get too close, the moose mom will stomp you to death.  Remember, when dealing with a mother moose, don’t get too close and absolutely don’t get between her and her calves.  Also, when trying for that great shot, remember not to stop your car in the middle of the road; its a great way to cause an accident.

I got a close-up view of a mother moose who thought her calves were at risk at the house this July. A very mature mom, a third larger than we'd ever seen, with twins took a rest in the back yard.  After a while she and the twins got up and started walking toward the garage (our garage is backed up by a hill the local moose like to use as a combination forage area and highway).  Since I had my camera, I rushed to front side of the house, with a view of the garage, to catch a picture as they went by.  I saw a moose come around the garage and start walking toward me.  Suddenly a second moose appeared around the garage moving quickly toward the first moose (I quickly headed to our deck and higher ground).

The mother moose had decided the younger female was a threat to her babies.  By the time the moose rounded the side of the house, the mother was in a full charge.  She chased the younger moose right under the deck.  I've been to a horse track and horses don’t hold a candle to that old moose cow at a run.   When she cut under the deck to get to the younger cow, several thoughts crossed my mind: “I wonder if collision by moose is covered in the household insurance policy” and “I hope the deck doesn’t collapse with me on it if she hits the supports.” 

For words from the professionals on how to get along with moose,  here's the link to the Alaska Department for Fish and Game Living with Moose which has a wealth of material on the subject.