New Hampshire's 10,000 Moose Ready for Spotting
When it comes to Moose Spotting it sometimes hard to distinguish who's spotting who – the moose or the tourists armed with their binoculars and digital cameras. New Hampshire's estimated 10,000 moose are pursued by thousands of avid animal watchers wanting to these gentle giants. There are a number of tour companies which get you up close and personal - but not too personal - with their Moose Spotting tours.
Most of the moose live in the Great North Woods section of the state, near the Quebec border. It is in this region that people travel to see some of North America's largest wild animals. So plentiful are the moose that some naturalists offering Moose Spotting Tours claim a 97% success rate in seeing an up-to 1,500 pound black/brown behemoth.
Outdoor Escapes, a Lakeport, New Hampshire outfitter offers a variety of Moose Spotting expeditions. Be it in a canoe, or on snowshoes, cross-country skis, mountain bikes or even in SUVs, the company's naturalists help visitors hunt moose … with their cameras. The mountain tours (starting at $193) are 6-hours in length; if a moose isn't spotted in that time frame the tours can be extended to 8-hours. For more information check out www.outdoorescapesnewhampshire.com
Other companies, like Mt. Madison Moose and Scenic Tours, www.mtmadisonmotel.com offer daytime bus trips into moose country, so that visitors can experience the wilds from inside an air-conditioned motorcoach! Moose are crepuscular creatures, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk.
One motorcoach moose spotting tour company, Pemi Valley Excursion, www.i93.com/PVSR/moose.htm specializes in affordable ($20 per person) evening expeditions from May until early October. Their coaches make a 2 1/2 to 3 hour journey through the majestic White Mountains in search of the gentle giants.
The Appalachian Mountain Club www.outdoors.org offers a unique expert perspective on outdoor adventure in New Hampshire's White Mountains to help take the guesswork out of encountering moose. The naturalist association provides free evening programs, including moose-spotting forays, stargazing, and nocturnal creature walks offered daily at the AMC Highland Center at 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday nights at the Joe Dodge Lodge in the heart of the White Mountains.
Spring is the best time to take the moose tour as the critters are on the move, slogging through the woods and wetlands towards their summer dwellings. The animals are very active along country-roads and highways. You can see them at the roadside licking the remains of the road salt that has built up after a long winter. A motorist has a good chance of seeing moose at the roadside in the spring.
Best roadside bet? There is a stretch of Route 3 that runs from Pittsburg, New Hampshire, to the Canadian border that the locals call “Moose Alley”. Tourists motoring through New England wanting to see moose find this scenic road the most reliable option.
Of course, moose on the loose can be spotted and photographed without having to join an organized tour group or by cruising up and down the back roads of New Hampshire. Experienced hikers and campers are almost guaranteed moose encounters when they visit some of New Hampshire's 66 state parks. Despite its name, moose is the big attraction at Deer Mountain State Park. Located in Connecticut Lakes State Forest, Deer Mountain Campground is just five minutes south of the Canadian border and 13 miles from Lake Francis. It is adjacent to Moose Alley, which makes it a prime location for moose viewing.
In Mollidgewock State Park, the best way to spot moose is while canoeing or kayaking the Androscoggin River. The Androscoggin is a favourite of fishing enthusiasts and is popular for watching wading moose.
Visitors’ Guides for wildlife areas from NH Natural Heritage Bureau
The N.H. Natural Heritage Bureau recently published four new guides as part of its ongoing Visiting New Hampshire’s Biodiversity series. The guides can be downloaded for free from the Bureau’s web site: http://nh.gov/dred/divisions/forestandlands/bureaus/naturalheritage/Guides.htm
To find out more about New Hampshire or to receive a free visitor's guide, call 1-800-FUN-IN-NH (386-4664) or visit www.visitnh.gov Canadian travel trade and media may call 1-888-423-3995, or email visitnh@travelmarketingexperts.com
March 28, 2008
Posted in: United States East