Botanical Glossary - Home

I saw this large creature as it crossed the highway from one grazing area to another. I managed to get the car stopped before getting close enough to spook her, rolled down the window and stuck the camera out. She seemed extremely curious as to what I was doing and as I photographed her, I softly spoke to her. She posed there for a few minutes until I decided to try moving the car a little closer. At that time she calmly trotted off into the bush. The highway between Cottonwood and Wells (highway 26) is rather desolate and there was no problems stopping for wildlife, even if there is no place to pull off the road.

Adult Moose are horse sized and are one of the largest wild mammals in North American Woods. They have longish brown hair, high humped shoulders and long legs that are lighter in color than the body color. They have a huge muzzle and a dewlap under the chin that varies in length with the individual Moose.

Moose like spruce forest, swamps, aspen and willow thickets and can often be seen wallowing in marshes. They browse upon woody plants, including twigs, buds, and bark of willow, balsam, aspen, dogwood, birch, cherry maple and vibernum.

Moose can move quietly through the woods at speeds up to 35 mph, and in general are very shy creatures avoiding contact with humans. During winter months (December to February) Moose are very unpredictable and dangerous. Cows with calves are irritable and fiercely protective, while rutting bulls occasionally charge people, horses, cars and locomotives.