Courteous Moose

Mollie and I went for a long hike up Mickinnick Trail today. This trail is pretty steep and rocky but it is close to town and I was hoping not as muddy as elsewhere with a thaw in full force.

The bottom flat section was the worse and treacherously icy in the shadows but eventually we made our way up the steep switchbacks. The seasonal creeks were running with small cheerful waterfalls. The sun was out and with effort of the climb it got quite warm.

Since we left at mid-morning we encountered groups of people coming down. We we kept climbing steadily. Mollie for her part the incline made her initial excitement give way to walking at my pace behind me.

Several times while walking a rocky ridge I could hear the almost childish whistling call of bald eagles. Finally they came into view. There were five of them wheeling about in the sunshine and blue sky. Obviously enjoying the fine day and the air rising off the ridge. Photgraphing them was a distinct challenge but these give you some idea.

On the next ridge-top I heard ravens and then I saw they were there to break up the eagle party.

In some ways the ravens are like Mollie who loves playing with bigger dogs using her skills of evasion. As a smaller dog she can turn faster and duck under vegetation. The ravens, however, are playing a game with more profound consequences.

Finally we broke into an altitude where the snow was banked heavily on the sides of the trail. Shortly later Mollie became quite alert and was sniffing and looking over snowbanks. This is the sign she has scented something. I took this seriously and leashed her up in case it was a bear or wolves.

We carried on up the trail past a section where it ran like a river in the thawing snowbanks. Finally we halted as the postholing and sliding on the soft snow was just too much of a slog. We shared a ‘Thunder’s Catch’ from the Bluebird Bakery (A wonderful croissant filled with salmon and cream cheese.) before heading back.

Again we passed through the stream-like section and Mollie stopped and there ahead of us was a big cow moose. She had been coming up the trail when she spotted Mollie.

Mollie likes to chase deer, rabbits, and squirrels but I have tried to teach that moose are different. She was very good and just stood watching and came when I called her. I leashed her up again and then walked back up the trail from where we came.

We waited and then proceeded back down the trail cautiously. I had a problem as I really didn’t relish trying to find another route in the deep snow and steep slopes. We walked back down to see if she had moved and she was still making her way towards us.

So I told the moose that she was better equipped at walking off the trail than we were and that she should let us by. (I have already confessed to talking to birds and trees so this is consistent for me at least.) We walked back again to give her time to think about it and waited a few minutes.

When we returned and the moose began to move off the trail slowly while walking towards us. I continued to talk to her and thanked her. Mollie for her part was straining at the lead to look at the moose. Eventually we passed about 15 feet apart, me with bear spray in one hand and Mollie’s lead in the other. I did not think it prudent to take photos and we continued down the trail uneventfully.

The moose was calm the whole time and she seemed very courteous to us. She was at least sensible.