The Kennebec Explorer 2018 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 20

Wildlife Watching
Mostly moose, but there are so many
other critters to spot.
On the lookout for wildlife?
While we make no promises, there are
more chances to spot what you are
looking for if you are well prepared.
For some, it is as simple as grabbing
a pair of binoculars and heading out
to the woods on foot or atop an ATV.
Another way to go would be to find
an organized wildlife safari where
the organizer can take you and your
group to a known “hangout.” Finally,
for the die-hard spotter, connect with a
Registered Maine Guide with tracking
skills who knows the terrain, the
habitat, and the habits of the critters
you desire to spot.
A spot of advice on
spotting a moose
Here in the Kennebec Valley, animal
advice is mostly offered to those
looking to track down and spot one
of our majestic Maine moose. Based
on what we have seen and heard
over the years, we can give you great
advice on the whereabouts of the
massive animals.
When to: The best times to spot moose
are at dawn and dusk from mid-May
through July, after the snowy winter
has passed, when they come down
from higher elevations to feed on tender
shoots. Moose are browsers rather than
grazers. They obtain most of their food
from aquatic and marsh plants such as
horsetails and pond weed. Moose also
eat grass, lichen, plants growing on the
forest floor, peeled-off bark, and leaves
from willow and poplar trees.
There is nothing quite like spotting a
male (bull) with a fully formed rack.
Because their racks have grown in,
the prime time to spot a set is in the
autumn is during the fall rut (breeding
season). Seeing a moose at that time is
a real treat because, not much later in
the season, they will shed their antlers.
Hikers lucky enough to find deer, or
even better, moose antlers (called sheds)
should consider this a rare find.
Where to: Because of their massive size,
moose find it easier to move about in
open areas—making it fairly easy to
spot one, if you are fortunate enough
to be at the right place at the right time.
They can often be seen licking up salts
along logging roads, diving for dinner
in wet boggy areas, hanging out in
gravel pits, and clip-clopping down
hiking or snowmobile trails.
Those looking for moose will have
better luck in the more rural parts of
the region. As a rule of thumb, the
further north you go, the better. The
area around Jackman is prime moose
spotting country, including anywhere
along Route 201 from The Forks to the
Canadian Border and on Route 15.
18 Make a Plan: KennebecValley.org
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