M o o s e ! ! 

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After searching the web for sites on the coolest animal under heaven, I was somewhat dismayed that there were thousands of pages on other animals yet so few pages on the Moose. I mean, how many dog pages do you really need? Sheeesh.

Anyway, here's my modest attempt to give some recognition to the under-appreciated moose.

I've never seen a moose in the wild, although I have seen one at a zoo, but it was pretty sorry looking. When I was 11, my family and I went to Alaska for a week. At the airport in Anchorage, they had several displays of stuffed Alaskan wildlife. I walked past the wolf; that was cool. I walked past a polar  bear; nice, but scary. But then my eyes fell on the moose.

It was so impressive. From my 11 year old perspective it seemed to be 12 feet tall. I had no idea that there was anything so massive on the American continent. Strangely though, it wasn't frightening. For all it's size, that massive moose seemed to be a gentle giant. I saw several other animals at the airport, but it was the moose that left the biggest impression on me.

Other than that, the only other experience I've had with a moose was seeing it's tracks in the mud as my father and I were salmon fishing in Yakutat, Alaska. in '91.

I know what you're thinking, why do I think that moose are so neat?  I'll answer that question with a question: Why did  Baywatch use to be the most popular television show in the world? The answer is I don't know. There is no logical explanation for it. I just like them, ok!

***UPDATE. I finally saw a moose in the wild!! My father and I were hunting deer in SE Idaho in fall of 2001, when we came across a wild moose just 25 yards away. It was so beautiful and magnificent. My father, who had hunted in those hill for over 50 years said he had never seen a moose in that area before. Wow! What luck!***

Anyway. Here's a bunch of links. Knock yourself out.

The best site I've seen yet. The Magnificent Moose Project, by the kids and staff at Anne Wien School in Fairbanks, Alaska.
View an MPEG of this incredible Moose that Dave Hettmer made. Then read how he did it.
Take a look at ALASKAscapes Magazine. It is a nice publication with frequent moose photos
Wanna Join the Moose International Fraternity?
Now this place is cool. It's the Alaskan Poopmoose (you have to see it for yourself).
A page with some moose links.
The Manitoba Moose hockey team.
Wanna know what to do if confronted by an aggressive moose? Well the great state of Alaska has some information.
GoMoose is your one-stop center for Moose info,trivia, fun, contests, nonsense & more!
Speaking of Alaska, if you're vacationing there this summer, stop by and see the Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival.
Here's some great moose clipart. (I got that cool animated moose here).
Wanna know about prehistoric moose?
 

 Ok. That's all for now, but there will be more to come. In the meantime, take a look at my other page devoted to the wonderful World of the Chile Pepper!!