LOCALadk Magazine

20 Summer 2020 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk While paddling through a pond, I commented to my friend Puma how the habitat seemed appro- priate for moose. Minutes later, I saw something large and dark on the right shore. It moved, and sure enough it was a moose. We remained at a distance so it wouldn't return to the woods. After looking toward us, it entered the pond. It must have been on a mission because it kept going. We watched for about five minutes as the moose swam across the pond to the opposite shore. As it exited the water, it shook itself off. It stopped and looked at us, almost posing for one last pho- to. The moose casually wandered out of sight into the woods. We had never seen a moose take the water and swim before that day. This encounter was a truly unique experience. - Troy Zohner I am pretty sure I said, "Holy shit, a moose," but no one heard me (thankfully). I was enjoying an early spring solo kayak paddle. I had yet to recover from being shocked at seeing my first Adirondack moose, when a second moose poked its big head out from the trees. The moose ambled out of the woods and down the bank, into the refreshing water of Rainbow Lake. I sat stunned and ex- cited in my kayak. I fumbled for my camera and quickly snapped a few pictures, proof of what I was experienc- ing. The moose seemed to play for the camera a bit as both looked right at me and tilted their heads, as if ask- ing to have their photo taken. After a few minutes they continued to swim in front of me and over to the other side of the lake. They hit tree line and disappeared as quickly and quietly as they had appeared. Part of me wished I had been with someone so as to share the moment. However, a bigger part of me was sim- ply feeling blessed to have seen such beautiful moose enjoying the Adirondacks as much as I was that day. Future moose population growth is uncertain, but DEC will continue to monitor moose health, abundance, and distribution. - Anne Brewer

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