Stalking moose, we trailed the elusive beasts of Isle Royale through tall grass, shrubs and towering trees. Moose. I just wanted a glimpse.
We had motored 2 hours in a fishing boat to the lower 48's most remote National Park. We passed by the Witch's Tree, saw the remains of a fisherman's shack, skirted the coast of Canada and slowly floated over one of numerouse ship wrecks along the way. Yet, the one thing that would delight me most would be the sighting of a moose.
We only had a few hours to poke around. The boat would blast its horn 10 minutes before it would pull out of the harbor. My three kids and I hiked at a fast pace, scanning the inlet, the rivlets and grass for any sign of moose. With a sigh, I realized we would have to turn around.
Halfway back to the harbor we passed another hiker. I heard him call out to me, "Hey--don't forget your dog!" I turned around and we both stared at each other as a wolf bounded off into the brush. Stunned, the hiker and I both stared at each other for a moment before he explained that he had watched "our dog" follow us on our hike and it wasn't until it lifted a fluffy tail and bounded off that he realized, dogs weren't allowed on Isle Royale.
Guess we weren't the only ones stalking that day! Wolves and moose rule on Isle Royale. The moose are fierce prey and park rangers claim that most of the wolves on Isle Royale have fractures from well-placed kicks. The wolves are harmless and lead a tough life with hard won meals of moose. They have not injured anyone and I was flattered to have a wolf be our "dog" along trail.
Pulling away from the harbor I thought I caught a flash of buff-color in the trees. I squinted and suddenly a big dark brown moose lumbered up to the shoreline. Maybe my "dog" had herded the moose into my sight. That's what I like to believe. My day was complete.
The boat ride home with 14 foot swells on Lake Superior...well, now, that's another story.
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Comments: 9
Speaking for wolves, I ask people to look at Sandy A.'s post at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977263560.
Marianne--I'll have to dig out my picture of the Witch's Tree. Lake Superior calls for a healthy dose of God & superstition--both to be on the safe-side!
Cecile--I didn't mind my "dog" for the day! As a child I had an imaginary wolf for a friend. So it seemed special. Now bears--they scare the daylights out of me! Markleeville ends up with the problem bears that get "relocated." It doesn't take them long to figure out where the humans (and their garbage cans) live. One night my dad got out of bed because he heard the dog rummaging in the kitchen. Only he tripped over the dog cowering on the floor. Turns out, a bear had easily ripped through the screen door on that summer night and plopped right down in the kitchen and had a feast of the garbage under the kitchen sink. Keep your dogs close and your bears away!
that was amazing about the wolf..something about your party got his curiosity..did you have some kind of jerky snack on hand?
we have a hybrid dog..his senses are so much keener than our German Shepherds..