Tag: moose

Critter Count

Posted on by justrollingby

Total critter count for a rainy day today exploring the beautiful and vast sub alpine areas surrounding Donnelly Dome south of Delta, Alaska today… two bull Caribou, one Bull Moose, one cow Moose, three Northern Hawk Owls, two Hoary Marmots, about a dozen Arctic Hares and five wild Bison. While stomping back to the truck through the brush and coming to an open and muddy clearing, a fresh set of Grizzly tracks reveal themselves, heading deeper into the bush. I love this part of Alaska…

…Coming up in the near future: Tales of mountaineering in Alaska’s far eastern Alaska Range, aka the Delta Mountains, featuring success, failure, and all things in between, including some nifty photography… stay tuned.

Bull Moose_Delta
Bull Moose
Bull Caribou_Delta
Bull Caribou

An Unfortunate Moose

Posted on by justrollingby

Heading up to Klukwan today to stomp about, I came across this poor, hapless young Buck Moose standing upon an island in the middle of the mighty Chilkat River. His rear left leg badly broken and dangling about, pondering how he may cross the torrent upon three legs amidst unbelievable pain. Poor, poor baby. Broke my heart to see him in such a state. I can only imagine that the injury occurred given pursuit by Wolf or Bear…

 

I wish you love and luck my friend

A Wolf’s Pursuit

Posted on by justrollingby

Today I was blessed with the witnessing of a very special and rare sight…

Five minutes walk from my house, down on the beaches of the Chilkat Estuary, I was scanning the wilderness side (western side) of the Chilkat Inlet and spotted a moose standing in the brackish waters. Seemed strange to me… why would a Moose be standing in salty water where no Moose food grows? Then I see the wolf; trotting a medium pace up to, then past the position of the Moose. Soon the Wolf is gone and the Moose emerges from the water and disappears. Soon, the Moose is back and galloping a hard trot along the beach. Behind it I count 4, no 5… wait, six Wolves behind the creature in hot pursuit. Great splashes fly airborne as the Moose enters the off limits area of normal Wolf pack pursuit. The Moose stands by. Then, unexpectedly, another Moose is flying up the beach, perhaps just stumbling across this scene and is soon given chase by the six strong pack. The second Moose gallops hard for nearly a mile, with two Wolves near attack, when it too suddenly and violently plunges into the safety of the drink. The Wolves scatter, but I bet one of those Moose will be food for the pack before too long… A helluva a site today.

 

Sadly, no pictures….