Winter Moose Range

With the high pressure system that has dominated the majority of Alaska for the past week, we have been having some beautiful clear days which create some beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  The clear days and nights have also brought on some colder temperatures than we normally see.  This is sunrise on Mt. Illiamna, a volcano that is located across Cook Inlet from Anchor Point, Alaska.  The date is January 21, 2012  and the current temperature when this shot was taken was -22 degrees. The ice fog is created from the marine waters of Cook Inlet being warmer than the air temperature.  The entire surface of Cook Inlet was blanketed by this fog. 

"Mt. Illiamna and Cook Inlet"

This calf was born last spring, with the calf bedded down, the Cow Moose has wandered a short distance away to feed, however, keeping a watchful eye on me.  For the most part, the calves have been weaned and are now on their own to grub for their own food.

"Nap Time"

 

I was closer to the Calf than the Cow, so she naturally kept an eye on me to insure that I did not encroach to close.  Not to disturb either of them, I used a touch of telephoto to focus in on the calf while at the same time keeping a watchful eye on the Cow.  Typically, if they are getting agitated at your presence, they will warn you with a deep grunt or flexing the ears.  If the ears are laid back flat and the hair on their back rises, then it is time to back out and leave them alone.  In the picture below, she is not concerned about me, but still tracking me to in sure I do not encroach to far. 

"Mom Is Watching"

To see how she would react, I moved around a tree out of her sight, still maintaining a safe distance.  She only took a couple of steps to stand behind a large Cottonwood Tree where she could still watch my location and movement.  At this point, I am taking shots of her with my normal lens with no zoom.  Her ears are flexing slightly, but primarily to kick up my sound. 

 "The Trees Have Eyes"

I moved around the tree a little more and out of her sight, when I could view her again, she was in the  same spot but had her head wrapped around the tree to spot me without herself moving.  As she and I were playing our peek-a-boo game, the Calf remained bedded down and not concerned which is likely why the Cow was just watching me and not moving closer to the calf. Once again, it was a very good observing period, but still one where you had to make them feel as if they were dominant and you posed no threat to them or their young.  As a word of warning, do not push them and leave yourself a safety zone, a mad Cow Moose especially one with a Calf can kill you faster than a Brown Bear.  Her front legs are lethal weapons.  Leaving them alone, I retreated to the warmth of my truck to watch them a little longer. The Cow continued to feed and the Calf remained in bed. 

"Peek A Boo Tree"

 

Bull Moose

At daylight, I spent the morning on the Upper Anchor River, continuing my search for Bull Moose.  Temperatures on the Upper anchor River this morning was -23 Degrees.  Although, I consider myself fortunate to view sixteen Moose in about a two hour time span, they were all Cow and Calves.  Returning home, I received a call from friends that had spotted a Bull Moose from their home.  Although, the Bull was in a difficult place to get into due to the deep snows, I was able to get some long distance shots of him from the comforts of the decks of their home. 

The Bull is a young breeder, still having a harem of three cows with him.  The heavy snowfall that we have had this year, has hampered their movement but this particular Bull has chosen a good location to winter with a good supply of willows and other vegetation in the area. To preserve his energy, within days or weeks he will shed his antlers.  Come spring, he will once again start growing a new set, which will increase in size with each passing year.

"Bull and Cow Moose"

"Bull Moose In The Cottonwoods"



(Antler Palms Filled With Snow)

"Feeding On Cottonwoods Branches"

(Enjoying the protection of the Cottonwoods and less snow depths.)

 Tried to imitate a "Moose cough" to get his attention, although he responded by looking around, he never saw me or picked up a scent since I was above him and some distance away.

 Feeding on the tender tips of the Cottonwood Tree limbs.

 A good looking Bull, wish there was a way to see him come early fall after he has shed his velvet to see the increase in size of his antlers. 

"IT WAS A GOOD DAY"

Happy New Year 2012

January 1, 2012:  What better way to celebrate the New Year than to take a drive around your neighborhood, just to enjoy the diversity and natural beauty of the area in which you live.  I drove a total of thirty one miles round trip, taking a little over two hours to complete the journey.  During my "Photo Trek", I had the fortunate opportunity to view eighteen (18) Moose.  The highlight was having the chance to see three Bull Moose with the remainder being Cows and Calves.  This is the highest Bull to Cow ratio that I have witnessed in recent years. 

My trip started just a mile from my home on the beaches of Cook Inlet in Anchor Point, Alaska.  The temperature was a balmy -9 degrees.  This is the most Westerly Highway Point in North America that is continuously connected by the highway system.  Cook Inlet is named after the famed British Explorer, Captain Cook.  Unusual to see the air temperature low enough in comparison to the salt water temperature to create steam.

   

"Cook Inlet New Year's Day 2012" 

Approximately fourteen miles inland from the beaches of Cook Inlet.  This location is relatively close to where my wife's family homestead in the 1950's.  The valley in the foreground is the Anchor River Valley.  The plateau shape mountain in the background is Ohlson Mountain.  In the 1950's to 1963 this was an active Air Force Base for communications and connected in with the Dew Line and White Alice Sites.  All of which were early warning systems for our National Defense.  Temperature at this location is -14.

"Anchor River Valley and Ohlson Mountain"

From this particular site, you can also see the mountains that border Kachemak Bay which flows into Cook Inlet.  The distance to those mountains is deceiving.  They are approximately 30 - 35 miles in distance from where this photo was taken.  To reach those mountains from this point by cutting across country, you would need to traverse several smaller ridges and valleys as well the Anchor River Valley, Crossman Ridge, and Diamond Ridge; eventually dropping down onto the bench where the City of Homer is located on the north shoreline of Kachemak Bay. From Homer, you would then need to cross Kachemak Bay to reach the lower slopes of this mountain range.  The area in which this picture was taken was homesteaded by hardy families, prior to the construction of any road system.  One of their primary access trails into this area was from Diamond Ridge.  Which is the last tree line ridge you can see in the photo.

"Upper Anchor River Valley"

With a recent heavy snowfall, the Moose are now moving from the higher elevations of the foothills into the lower elevations to winter. These low lying valleys and ridges are their winter habitat areas primarily due to less snow accumulation and the willow patches that provide them their food source.  The cows will remain in the area until the spring calving season before moving back into the foothills.

"Young Bull Moose Feeding On Willows On the Banks Of The Anchor River"

Looking at the immense size of a mature moose, one would think that they would be easy enough to spot. It would be surprising to know the number of people and cars that Moose see, yet those same cars and people never see the Moose.  This particular Cow and I had some fun playing, "Peek A Boo", I spent a half hour with her, just to watch her reaction.  She would move out of my sight behind a tree, then peek out to see what I was doing.  I would move, she would move, and take a peek.   

"Peeking Through The Snow Laden Spruce Boughs"

 

"Cow Moose In Hiding"

My New Year's trip concluded at my starting point, just in time to watch the sun slip below the horizon.  The active volcano, St. Augustine across Cook Inlet highlighted in the setting sun, a fitting way to close out the daylight hours of the first day of the New Year. 

Now, ask me again, Why do you live in Alaska?

"Saint Augustine at Sunset"