I was going to say I didn't think this was a moose. Glad I didn't bother looking up antler shapes as I see this topic has already been thoroughly covered by Aknan.
I've been wanting to see a moose for years and have been in places where they are supposed to be plentiful enough that there are highway signs warning of them. Still, no luck. Seeing one w/o antlers wouldn't satisfy me, tho. Gotta be a big bull.
That's a lovely watercolor. Besides doing a great job on the caribou s/he gives a nice sense of morning mistiness on snow.
That is neither an elk or a moose - it's a caribou. They have very unique antlers, heavier than an elk's. Moose have more paddle-shaped antlers.
darambo
Apr 20, 2017
Akan thanks for the lesson on animal i.d., stupid me knows it is not an elk. We have plenty of them around here, but in my defense it was 2:30am and was having my first cup of coffee. I usually sleep from 11pm until about 2am-2:30am. Yes, I have a huge sleeping problem, had it for years. Anyways its a beautiful painting, thanks for responding usually only Aussie does( she's a wonder) Be safe out there ;-)!!!!
aknan
Apr 21, 2017
Working on too little sleep myself, confusion is totally understandable! Especially that early in the a.m, too boot. I love seeing the caribou; I've actually had them come so close to me that their breath fogged my camera lens! However, the animal I see most often is a moose. We have around 200 of them in Anchorage most all year round.
darambo
Apr 22, 2017
Akan would love to see a herd of caribou, amazing that they would get that close to you. I have two things I collect one is penguins and the other is moose. Love them, although I understand they can be very mean. Just can't picture how big they are.
aknan
Apr 24, 2017
A mature bull moose is easily 6' at the shoulders, 1500 pounds, full rack of antlers about 5' across. You don't realize how big they are from pictures.
Caribou are curious and we've been around wildlife long enough to know how to be still. Another encounter that really got our blood flowing was to be caught in a small stampede of caribou. We stood behind some small bushes - couldn't run fast enough to get away - and they parted around us. We were in the midst of animals, hair and dust!
darambo
Apr 25, 2017
Aknan WOW!! how exciting to be in a caribou stampede, can picture it in my mind. Thanks for sharing the story. Just can't believe moose are soooo big, think it would take me seeing one to believe it. Thanks again and be safe.
My husband and I used to wonder how moose and elk could get through dense woods with a rack like that. We watched and saw them move slowly and tilting their heads deftly this way and that --- there was no problem!
I've been wanting to see a moose for years and have been in places where they are supposed to be plentiful enough that there are highway signs warning of them. Still, no luck. Seeing one w/o antlers wouldn't satisfy me, tho. Gotta be a big bull.
That's a lovely watercolor. Besides doing a great job on the caribou s/he gives a nice sense of morning mistiness on snow.
Caribou are curious and we've been around wildlife long enough to know how to be still. Another encounter that really got our blood flowing was to be caught in a small stampede of caribou. We stood behind some small bushes - couldn't run fast enough to get away - and they parted around us. We were in the midst of animals, hair and dust!