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Published: 2010-03-23 06:45:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 16901; Favourites: 560; Downloads: 87
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*NOTE*Thank you in advance for any comments/favs. Due to carpal tunnel I am very limited in my ability to respond to comments or favs - at this time.
My moose walking (uninvited) companion, in December 2009.
This is one of two photos I took. MOOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE CLOSE KIND is here: [link]
Cannon Powershot SX-20 IS.
This was not taken with a telephoto! I did not approach the moose to take her photo – you never do that to a wild animal!
I was out taking scenic photos in and about the woods and the moose apparently had been hidden in the woods by all the snow on the trees when I walked through the path onto the small University parking lot. I turned to the rt. to take photos and with the camera still up to my eye, turned around to the left and there she was! It was such a surprise! I never heard a sound with all the heavy snow and frost completely sound-proofing the woods and with my back turned!
It only took me about 2 seconds to figure out I could not outrun her and would probably spook her into charging if I moved suddenly….so I completely froze, barely breathing. Then it only took her about 2 more seconds to reach me! She passed within 18 inches of my nose (I could have patted her on the nose) and if you look at the photo you’ll see she was so close that I couldn’t get all of her rt. hoof in the pic! (the photo linked above) I assure you I was not paying attention to focusing the camera!
The only thing I moved was the forefinger on my rt. hand to snap the 2 photos. I’m surprised I had the presence of mind to do that! I’ll admit it was quite unnerving….I’m sure you could hear my heart pounding a block away and I was more than relieved when she kept walking on by!! Though I’ve seen and had many moose in my yards over the years, it was my first close wild moose encounter in 44 years here.
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My art/photos may not be copied by any means and/or uploaded to any Internet site – including blogs – for viewing or download without my WRITTEN PERMISSION.
My images may not be edited, published, transmitted, borrowed, duplicated, manipulated, added to, reproduced, cropped, used as a backgrounds for your art, or altered in any way unless you make a written request to me and I give you written permission.
You may NOT claim this image as your own art and you may not change the title or use it to illustrate your writing. You may NOT legally burn this image onto a CD and give or sell it to anyone. You MAY NOT apply my images to items for sale and earn money using my images in any way – they may not be used for commercial purposes.
This art is NOT stock art and it IS NOT in the Public Domain.
I do NOT give my permission for you to place a link on any social networking site, that links back to my work here – without my written permission. If you ask, I MAY give permission on a case-by-case basis.
c. 2009 1ArcticFox – All rights reserved.
Related content
Comments: 203
0oKatanao0 In reply to ??? [2010-12-30 13:55:22 +0000 UTC]
I've always wanted to travel to the US and visit Alaska, not for it's animal life (since I have the same here in Northern Canada) but for it's majestic scenery, I would love to just camp out under the back drop of a huge mountain range Alaska must be, however the most expensive place to visit in NA. We were quoted $4G's a person. OUCH!
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1arcticfox In reply to 0oKatanao0 [2010-12-30 19:06:04 +0000 UTC]
Oh my....that's a LOT of money! I'm not sure what part of Northern Canada you're in but it's not generally cheap to fly here! Depending on the price of gas (it's insane now) sometimes it's cheaper to drive, if you have access to a small camper and don't have to pay much for lodging and don't mind eating on the cheap. But then there's the time factor. I've driven to and from Alaska 4 times....all the way to the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and all the way back. It's about a 22 day round trip, just driving! If you do your own research (not using a travel agency), find discount air tickets, use the few bus services we have or perhaps the train (doesn't go to many places), camp out, stay in a bed & breakfast/hostel, cook your own food you might shave off some of the cost. Hopefully some day you can come!
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0oKatanao0 In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-12-30 19:44:47 +0000 UTC]
Yeah I know! It costs me 800$ just to fly 8hrs south to Toronto, ONT. Damn Gas prices! haha. Well if we ever do go, we'd be backpacking most of it. We go for camping trips every summer I love it
I love to take nature shots [link]
Maybe if we save up enough we will go there for our honeymoon
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1arcticfox In reply to 0oKatanao0 [2011-01-01 21:11:27 +0000 UTC]
$800 to fly 8 hours south? You must be way north! Good luck....hope you can realize your dream someday!
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0oKatanao0 In reply to 1arcticfox [2011-01-01 21:23:34 +0000 UTC]
Whoops sorry it's an 8hr drive 1.5hr flight
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1arcticfox In reply to 0oKatanao0 [2011-01-02 00:47:01 +0000 UTC]
8 hour drive is still a pretty long way!
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laurengary In reply to ??? [2010-06-18 04:41:32 +0000 UTC]
Well, experiences like yours & because I've always felt that Alaska was America's last frontier & somehow, I've always felt like I should go there. And I've felt like that since I was 18. Weird, huh ?
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1arcticfox In reply to laurengary [2010-06-18 07:10:05 +0000 UTC]
How interesting - no I don't think that's weird! In 8th grade we studied Jack London and I read call of the Wild and was absolutely enchanted with the idea of the "Far North" and Alaska - I am still enchanted with Alaska! (little did I know then, that I would ever move here) Maybe you should come someday!
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Sarah--Lynne In reply to ??? [2010-04-12 04:15:05 +0000 UTC]
I featured this wonderful image in my journal dedicated to moose
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1arcticfox In reply to Sarah--Lynne [2010-04-28 18:09:35 +0000 UTC]
Thanks..very much appreciated!
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Thelma1 In reply to ??? [2010-03-28 20:43:43 +0000 UTC]
Wow, what a fantastic experience Anita, albeit a little scary, and you got a wonderful shot to share with us too
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1arcticfox In reply to Thelma1 [2010-04-02 17:24:47 +0000 UTC]
Thanks Thelma! It was indeed fantastic....but I don't care to repeat it again for obvious reasons!
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ricky4 In reply to ??? [2010-03-27 20:20:14 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful capture!
Great & unusual surprise! I'm sure he was kind of hungry!
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1arcticfox In reply to ricky4 [2010-03-28 07:07:17 +0000 UTC]
Thanks Ricky! It was a great surprise! She apparently had been in the woods when I walked through the path onto the small parking lot and was completely hidden by all the snow on the trees. I turned to the rt. to take photos and with the camera still up to my eye, turned around and there she was! And she was very hungry....down to stripping bark off the trees!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
ricky4 In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-28 21:29:39 +0000 UTC]
She? A female companion! hehe... I must say that you know this kind of thing, being in a center of a wildlife very often!
Quite a real exciting experience though, (the right place on the right time) I envy you somehow!
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DameOdessaStock In reply to ??? [2010-03-27 16:12:27 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful shot, such a precious moment
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
1arcticfox In reply to DameOdessaStock [2010-03-27 18:18:31 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much! It certainly makes you feel "alive"! I have a closer one where she is right in front of me that I will post tomorrow night.
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bluesman219 In reply to ??? [2010-03-27 04:51:59 +0000 UTC]
Nice photo Anita.
Hope all is well with you and yours.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
1arcticfox In reply to bluesman219 [2010-03-27 18:17:00 +0000 UTC]
Thanks Phil! I'm doing ok and hope you are too! So nice to hear from you!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
bluesman219 In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-31 03:16:23 +0000 UTC]
Welcome Anita. We're doing fine.
I've been much busier than I thought I would
be after retiring but most of it's good.
I've been able to spend more time with my sculpting.
Beth, has been very busy with work. But, she loves
her job and that makes me happy to see. She went
through a lot to finally have a job she enjoys.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
1arcticfox In reply to bluesman219 [2010-04-02 17:30:03 +0000 UTC]
Happy for you both Phil! I'll look forward to seeing some of your sculputres posted!
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
bluesman219 In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-04-03 06:00:07 +0000 UTC]
I have a few in my gallery folder but hopefully a few
more will soon be done.
I'm working on a sculpture now that's pink alabaster.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
1arcticfox In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-04-02 17:31:17 +0000 UTC]
I really CAN spell sculptures! I just wish DA had a spell-check!
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live2b In reply to ??? [2010-03-25 23:56:50 +0000 UTC]
Great shot. I'm sure by now she recognizes your scent. No telling how many times she has seen you and you didn't see her. Perhaps she decided it was time to meet!!!
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1arcticfox In reply to live2b [2010-03-26 17:14:36 +0000 UTC]
Thanks Ginny! You are too funny! And I think you're right - she probably has seen me more times than I care to know! Hope you're doing good!
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live2b In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-26 18:17:36 +0000 UTC]
I'm doing fine. Hope you are the same. I've been missing you!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
1arcticfox In reply to live2b [2010-03-27 18:15:16 +0000 UTC]
Awwww....I missed you too! I'm...sort of....back. Will explain in a journal soon.
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1arcticfox In reply to GypsyH [2010-03-25 18:49:37 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! It was a gorgeous day, with new snow having fallen on heavily frosted trees!
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GypsyH In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-25 23:48:44 +0000 UTC]
You really get some nice photos up there.
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1arcticfox In reply to GypsyH [2010-03-26 17:18:23 +0000 UTC]
Awww....thanks so much! Even though I've been here many years, I never forget how very lucky I am to live around all this beauty!
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terrye634 In reply to ??? [2010-03-24 00:04:59 +0000 UTC]
That is so cool! I'm with Anna, though, I probably would have frozen, since that is what I tend to do when I'm surprised. Could be a good thing, in some cases!!
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1arcticfox In reply to terrye634 [2010-03-25 18:48:53 +0000 UTC]
Thanks Terrye! That's precisely what you need to do - freeze - in this circumstance! It only took me about 2 seconds to figure out I could not outrun her and would probably spook her into charging, if I moved suddenly. I didn't move anything except the finger on my camera to take several pics - I already had the camera up to my eye, when I turned around from the other direction. It was a little unnerving though!
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terrye634 In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-26 03:41:45 +0000 UTC]
I'll bet, and I guess I would have done the right thing!! Which is good because I really wouldn't know what to think! It's very cool that you got the pictures!ss
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1arcticfox In reply to terrye634 [2010-03-26 17:25:42 +0000 UTC]
I will be submitting tonight, the one where she is right in front of my face. It's not as clear because I'll assure you I was not thinking about focusing the camera, at that time!
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1arcticfox In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-28 06:58:56 +0000 UTC]
...delayed....submitting tomorrow night.
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terrye634 In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-27 20:13:26 +0000 UTC]
I don't think I would have either!! I look forward to seeing it!
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1arcticfox In reply to Annaphotix [2010-03-23 17:43:50 +0000 UTC]
lol I'll admit it sort of took my breath away, but the only choice was to stand still, and not scare her into charging! We have moose all over town and if you tried to always avoid them - you'd never go outdoors! We've learned to live with them but they are dangerous and one has to be very aware - which I was. It's just that all the heavy snow and frost completely sound-proofed the woods, and she apparently emerged suddenly out of the woods right before she nearly ran into me and I never heard a sound with my back turned! I was quite relieved when she kept walking on by!!
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Annaphotix In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-23 23:02:33 +0000 UTC]
As I say... !!! You did well to keep your composure
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AndySerrano In reply to ??? [2010-03-23 12:46:26 +0000 UTC]
That must have been a very magical moment!
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1arcticfox In reply to AndySerrano [2010-03-23 17:37:12 +0000 UTC]
It WAS magical and.....a bit hairy......even for a seasoned Alaskan of 44 years! Wild animals are unpredictable and moose are actually more dangerous than bears - a man was killed on campus by one when I was in college in the 90's. I knew the best thing to do was to freeze since sudden movement can spook them. I can tell you my heart was beating faster until she passed me! I've run into her twice again (not quite as close), and I wonder if she now "recognizes" me - as no threat - but I don't take any chances! Funny thing is.....I am VERY aware always while I am walking.....and constantly looking all around me.....but she has surprised me everytime!
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AndySerrano In reply to 1arcticfox [2010-03-24 02:12:31 +0000 UTC]
I guess this moose now feels comfortable around you.
In California, more people have been trampled to death by deer than killed by bears.
So, this makes sense that a moose could severely injure you.
Take care!
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1arcticfox In reply to AndySerrano [2010-03-26 17:21:57 +0000 UTC]
Thanks, I will! And you're right - though bears are fearsome, most would prefer to leave you alone and it's documented that moose are more dangerous than bears, so it stands to reason that deer would be too - if for no other reason than crashing into cars and killing people - which kills people when moose do it, as well.
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