This moose is in retreat from the deep snow in the hills and has been hanging out in Mountainside Village for a couple days nibbling buds off decorative trees. It's a big'un, either a mature lady or a male denuded of his rack for the time being. He is a big awkward animal, with his sloping walk and pronounced hump and long bulbous head. We all have been watching him from windows and porches, posting pictures online, driving slowly.
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| In no hurry Pics courtesy of Bruce |
I let Sophie out to pee and her hackles rose. Oh shit. He came stomping through the neighbors' yard, slowly at first but as she cowered and barked, moving faster, a very half-assed charge. I ran back up the stairs and yelled at Sophie, wondering distantly if he would ram my car. But a moose in winter is not a moose in autumn; conserving calories takes the highest precedent and the unpredictable hormonal rages are forgotten in the quest for survival.
He changed his mind and lumbered away. Sophie decided he was a wimp, backing down from a fight. She barked and prepared to give chase, but I collared her and told her very firmly what I thought about that, and sent her in the other direction to perform her morning duties. The moose, nonchalant and knee deep in snow, arced his neck to find more edible bits on the maples lining the boulevard.
He's still hanging out, not really bothering anyone. Welcome to Idaho.
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| Just the friendly(ish) neighborhood moose |
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