Kananaskis Wildlife: Two Bull Moose

Hiking west of Bragg Creek last weekend I ended up in a meadow that was a mix of evergreen trees and waist-high wild grasses.  Navigating this open field is much easier in the winter with the frozen ground and there are all manner of animals trails to follow.  It was one of these that led me to this incredible bull moose who was grazing beside a large stand of trees.  I noticed him from a distance and then slowly moved closer under his occasional glance.

I was quite surprised when, as I moved around the trees to get a better view of the whole animal, I saw a second bull.  I often see female moose and calves in groups of 2-10 but I can’t think of a time outside of the rut when I’ve seen two bulls together.

As I watched them, they seemed very comfortable and were not intimidating one another.  I was fascinated and really enjoyed studying them interacting.  I stayed with them for about half an hour and I came away with the impression that they acted like brothers.  One, the first one I saw, had the larger rack and acted like the big brother.  Both were beautiful creatures.  I’m always happy to see healthy bulls as it means good things for the local population in general.

This encounter came about an hour after photographing a mother and baby moose a few miles away so it was a great morning in K-Country.  Much more for me to learn about these beautiful animals.  I love the opportunities I have to do that with them in their natural surroundings.  I rarely forget how lucky I am.

 

5 responses

  1. Yes, you are very lucky; beautiful animals and scenery. Thanks for sharing the amazing photos, and your insights into their behaviour. Great to hear good news about the health of the local environment.

    December 2, 2011 at 1:50 am

  2. victoriaaphotography

    Thanks for sharing. How lucky you are to be able to walk amongst the wild creatures and observe them in their natural habitat.

    December 1, 2011 at 5:22 pm

  3. How fortunate you are to live in an area so rich with wildlife. You do excellent work with respect for the animals you photograph! I always look forward to seeing your next group of photos! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

    December 1, 2011 at 4:45 pm

  4. Wonderful shots and beautiful creatures. Thanks for sharing your lovely world with us through your photography.

    December 1, 2011 at 1:11 pm

  5. So beautiful.
    Nice colours.
    Great shots.

    December 1, 2011 at 12:28 pm

Your comments are truly appreciated - thank you for visiting.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.