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Maine's Moose Country

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A number of options are available to answer that question. Some half-dozen outfitters offer moose safaris, or you can hire an independent Registered Maine Guide to take you out for a day. (A moose tour mixes most agreeably with an afternoon of fishing.) Northwoods Outfitters, for example, located in downtown Greenville, has been guiding moose-watching excursions for more than a decade. You may travel via water or land. On the water, you may find yourself paddling silently in a kayak, and you'll often hear moose crashing through the alders before you see them. Or take a trip in the encapsulated comfort of a motor vehicle along some of the region's farflung network of logging roads, keeping an eye peeled for their favorite luncheon grounds.

A handy base for moose watching may be found on the northwest side of Moosehead Lake. The Birches is a classically rustic resort of old log cabins and lazy recreation. Daily tours are offered morning, afternoon, and evening. They're as close to luxe as you'll find hereabouts, with guests reposing on the equivalent of vinyl sofas aboard a pontoon boat. You'll set off up a sea-size lake, then detour up a quiet inlet that turns into an even quieter stream. You may see eagles or mink, and then, as you round a bend ... a moose.

The moose is no doubt eating. They do that a lot. Don't worry -- they're vegetarians. In the summer, they eat some 40 to 50 pounds a day, building heft for the lean days of winter. They often graze along the water's edge because they especially like the roots of aquatic plants. You may be able to approach reasonably close if your moose has its Oldsmobile-size head underwater, browsing contentedly.

As you gradually arrive at that third stage of comprehension -- appreciating the moose in all its mooseyness -- notice how it has evolved exquisitely for its habitat. Its great height lets it browse high in branches and deep in the water. The front legs are longer than the rear to help it navigate those tumbled and chaotic woods. The Homer Simpson-like eyes ("Mmmm ... aquatic plants!") give it nearly 360-degree vision, and its superior senses of smell and hearing are thanks to that big snout and the rabbit-like ears.

Ah, yes, and then you hit a fourth stage: realizing you've had a quintessential North Woods moment and are now free to return home, uniquely satisfied.

Read about a close encounter with a moose.

More about Maine

What the Locals Know

The best viewing months are usually May, June, September, October, and December. Although group tours by car or boat can certainly prove satisfying, the most intimate way to encounter moose in their habitat is to glide quietly in a kayak or canoe. To find prime viewing spots, check with the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce (mooseheadlake.org), or just ask at any outdoor outfitter, and let your paddles bring you closer than you can believe.

Moose-Spotting Tips

Bear in mind that during the September-October mating season, bull moose will behave more aggressively. And no matter how cute the baby moose looks through your camera, if a mother feels you're threatening her little one, she'll move to protect it.

A wonderful book to bring to Moosehead Lake is "Maine Moose Watcher's Guide" by Bill Silliker Jr. (R. L. Lemke, 1993). Back home, check out Silliker's "Moose: Giants of the Northern Forest" (Firefly, 2005; $19.95); "Uses for Mooses" (Down East Books, 2000; $12.95); and "Moose-cellania" (Down East Books, 2004).