“A cow and a calf almost fully grown, they angled toward me because the water was still very fast. With the fast water on one side and the steep embankment behind me with felt-soled boots on, I decided to make my way back to the bridge. Stopped on the bridge was a family in their truck and we watched the moose and talked a bit.
“Several years ago, starting my early morning bow hike into Hewlett Gulch, I was just passing the outhouse when I spotted movement coming up from the low ground to the right. The grass was high and at first I thought mule deer, then I thought elk? Then I thought moose!?
“Sure enough, it was a cow moose that came up, stopped on the trail broadside to me at less than 20 yards, then she walked up through the LZ (landing zone for emergency medical helicopters) and over the ridge with that goofy walk of theirs.
“Of course, none of this is as much fun as having a mountain lion walking around on the cabin roof.”
Poudre Highway. By Sky Stephens
Patrick Foster, Poudre Park: “It was quite exciting seeing the moose. Sky and I first saw them on Thursday evening on our drive home just about a mile below the Poudre Park entrance.”
Laura Mallinson Buchanan, community unknown, somewhere in the world: “When we lived on the Little Spokane River bluff, our neighborhood had a frequent moose visitor. They are magnificent creatures. “
From Jan Gueswel
Jan Gueswel, Poudre Park: “I got a call from Mr. Moose (Channing Moose, a local resident) asking me if I had seen or heard about the moose that he had seen in lower Poudre Canyon. They were by my house earlier, a pair of young bull moose traipsing around, munching on willows and just enjoying themselves. We are enjoying watching them too.”
Cheryl Lindstom, Edwards, Colo.: “Saw a mom and calf in the winter in a fairly popular hiking/snowshoeing area near Minturn. Lots of people saw them and apparently they’re not so bothered by semi-regular human encounters, although everyone gives them a wide berth (hence no photos for us; we skedaddled). They were seen again recently. Moose have been known to wander directly into Vail on occasion.”
This photo and the first one above were taken by Perry Springer at Joe Wright Reservoir
Barb Springer, Fort Collins: “How fun! We saw four big bulls up near Joe Wright (Joe Wright Reservoir at the top of the Poudre Canyon). Got some great pictures too!”
Bill Sears, Poudre Park: “If you want to be better informed on moose in our area, particularly their impact on the riparian area and the bird populations, here are some thought-provoking websites:”
http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/range556/Appl_BEHAVE/projects/moose_willow2.html
___________
Of course, the question is, Where have the Poudre moose gone?
No idea! I’ve kept an eye out for them as I drive to and from town, but have had no sightings since July 31.
They were headed along the river and down the Poudre Canyon when I saw them that day. They weren’t far from Gateway Natural Area. So they may have wandered into there and headed up the North Fork of the Poudre.
If you’ve seen them (or see them in the near future), please write in a reader comment on this blog or send me an email at poudrewolf@aol.com.
Thank you to everyone who sent in comments and photos, and to all of you who read this blog!
–Gary Kimsey
