I go out almost every day to photograph wildlife and I often visit areas where I have recently seen moose. As a result, I get familiar with certain ones and where they tend to hang out. The moose population has grown considerably in the San Juans in recent years as they have very few predators. I have counted as many as ten different moose in the greater Silverton area in a single day and I have identified at least that many in the area again this year. While moose and other animals are most active early in the morning, I recently went out late one afternoon to photograph birds and whatever other wildlife I might find. As I was walking along in an area that I frequently go, I unexpectedly came across a moose laying down in the trees just off the trail. As soon as I saw her, I stopped and backed off a little, but she didn’t move or appear unduly alarmed. It was one that I had seen in the area and photographed previously on several occasions, so I figured she probably recognized me. Not only do they have an excellent sense of smell, but I often talk to them when I’m up close so that they hopefully won’t see me as a threat. So far, I have been successful and have never been charged. They often bed down after eating to chew their cud, so it didn’t occur to me at first why she was laying there. Since she didn’t appear concerned with my presence, I took a couple of photos. That was when I noticed a small pair of ears poking up beneath her huge head. Looking closer, I realized that it was a newborn calf. I quickly took a few more photos and then left to not disturb them any more than I had. From the short time that I observed the calf it was obvious that it couldn’t hold its head up for very long.
The next day I decided to try to visit the mother and calf again to see how they were doing and hopefully get a few more photos. I went with a friend who is also a wildlife photographer, giving us an extra set of eyes and ears. They had moved from where I had seen them the previous day, but as we continued along the trail the mother suddenly jumped up from where she was laying with the calf about 50 feet from where she had given birth. We quickly backed off and although the mother looked at us, she didn’t move in our direction. We patiently waited from a safe distance and were rewarded with the sight of the calf walking over to mom, looking around, and then starting to nurse. A truly amazing sight, and very encouraging to see the one-day old calf walking around. The calf didn’t stay up for long, as mom gently nudged her back to where she had been laying.
A few days later I returned but was unsuccessful at finding them. I consider this a good sign as it means that the calf was mobile enough to move to better cover and/or more food sources for the mother. The calf will continue to nurse for about five more months during which time it will stick very close to its mother. We think that it is a young bull, and a local boy who saw my photograph of the calf decided that we should call him Dennis. Dennis appears to be a healthy young calf, so hopefully he can survive to grow into another one of the majestic bull moose that we are fortunate to have as neighbors in the San Juan Mountains. I look forward to watching him as he grows up!
Moose calving season in Silverton is around late May to early June. In addition to this calf, I have seen at least one other pregnant cow in the area. It isn’t always obvious if they are pregnant as is the case in the photograph that I took shortly before she gave birth. The white hairs on her neck and the back of her hump provide distinctive markings to identify her, but she doesn’t have the white facial markings like Snowy (see my previous blog post). Given that there is at least one newborn calf and a very protective mother moose around, it is a good idea to be extra vigilant out on the trails, avoid the willows if possible, and keeping your dogs on a leash or at least in close voice control.
Elaine Greene
Sunshine Jongeling
Thank you so much for these incredible pictures!!!!