• Tuesday-What'sUP August 22 - 06:03 pm

Cindy Freeman spotted something she's been in search of for some time, whenever she makes a visit here in the Upper Peninsula. She's always wanted to see a moose and not only did she see one moose, but was also lucky enough to see a cow with her calf! From what I understand, this is a somewhat common sight when you're traveling U.S. 141 between Baraga and Covington. So if you're driving along and you see a gathering of cars along the side of the rode, chances are someone has spotted a moose and then others have stopped to have a look too. Make sure you have your camera ready!

Would that ever be cool to see.

Please let me have the opportunity.

We've been looking for a moose for years as we travel the UP, but as of yet not been lucky enough to see one. In June we were coming down Brockway Mountain and did see a couger, moving fast, so didn't even have time to grab the camera sitting between our seats. Now that was exciting. Asking around I understand the DNR doesn't acknowledge these cats are even in the UP. But they don't in Indiana either even tho they've attact farm animals in the area.

While primitive camping near Cranberry Lake last summer, my son had an adult cougar approach him. The tracks were nearly 5 inches wide. The DNR said cougars aren't around there...and don't shoot them.

These moose photos serve as a reminder of the UP's vast wilderness and beauty.

We lived in Houghton for 16 years and I always hoped I'd see a moose. Saw several bears and eagles over the years. This summer, driving back to Eagle Harbor after having dinner at the Hut, we saw a wolf cross 41 near Mohawk. We turned the car around in the Adirondak furniture place (don't remember what it is called) and watched him watch us for several minutes before he finally wandered off!

I guess I'm one of the fortunate ones to have seen moose AND a cougar in the UP. I have seen quite a number of moose along M28 between Michigamme and Alberta, specifically around the Tioga Falls roadside park. I have only seen one cougar and actually managed to snap a photo. Unfortunitely it was at night so all you see in the photo is two glowing eyes about 100 ft in front of the vehicle; the body did not come out very well. This was just outside Mass City on M26 in 2003. And while we lived in Red Jacket, we had a black wolf trot across our back yard one rainy morning.

This past trip was actually boring for seeing wildlife; no moose, cougar, or bear. We did see lots of bald eagles however, including one that caught a fish in Keweenaw Bay as we left for Lower Michigan....

It's fun to see my moose pics here today. Like Mary said, I have been looking for moose for years! My heart was pounding when I stopped the car. I was so afraid it would take off into the woods before I got a chance to get a picture. It wasn't until I took about ten shots that I realized that there was a calf! I'm not sure how long they had been there before we stopped, but we watched them for at least half an hour. Of course, they were far back in the field and knew that we were not a threat.
It's also great fun to hear about the sightings of other animals in the Keweenaw. I've seen bears, coyotes, foxes, and eagles, but adding cougars and wolves to that list would be awesome!

Wow... what a great shot! To have been in the right place to see these moose and to get a photo too! Good job! I have only seen a moose on Isle Royale...years ago, but have been waiting and waiting to see another while up north. You'd think that after all the miles I travel there and back, that just ONE would cross my path. (well, actually glad they don't cross my path - that would be a wreck for sure! You know what I mean!) :)

Glad you got your shot, Cindy. I haven't seen one either. My Uncle had a couger on the front porch one night when he got home from Tech, it jumped and so did he.

Just returned from the Yoop and saw a moose and calf just a couple miles west of Three Lakes -- my first UP moose sighting !!!!

ISN'T THAT A MOOSE?

(Blush)... Reading further... :)

Those are awesome pictures! Thank you for sharing. The only thing that I can think of that would be cooler would be to have a picture of a bull moose with his big old rack, in addition!

I think I missed something, somewhere. Where did you find these moose? I love moose, and would love to see them in person, to take pictures of. But I would not want to have them cross my tracks. A car-moose crash at night would be a disaster for all involved--it would not be a pretty sight.

Marianne,
read this: from above
Cindy Freeman spotted something she's been in search of for some time, whenever she makes a visit here in the Upper Peninsula. She's always wanted to see a moose and not only did she see one moose, but was also lucky enough to see a cow with her calf! From what I understand, this is a somewhat common sight when you're traveling U.S. 141 between Baraga and Covington.

I too am waiting to see my first U.P. moose. Several years ago one was seen around our house in Gay. We found some foot prints and man were they big. My husband could fit his whole hand in it. Went back everyday at all times of the day anbd never saw one. Now that I know there are more in the area I will be keeping my eyes peeled!

In my U.P. travels in the past 10 years, I have seen bear on US-41 within a mile of Copper Harbor, once I was in a car, the other time I was on foot. The bear ten years ago was named "Two Tags," who had two green DNR tags in his ear. Heard a hunter got him, however. Saw a wolf on M-26 in Eagle River when it was dark and 24 below zero; he was running in front of our headlights. Also saw a wolf crossing M-77 in Germfast and had two other bear sightings on the Gay-Lac LaBelle Road. I have never seen a moose or a cougar in the U.P. (except moose on Isle Royale). The cougar thing is a little like finding Bigfoot or the Lochness Monster. Lots of blurry and murky photos, but no vivid shots depicting the local background. Let's have a contest: Send your best U.P.-only cougar photos to Pasty.com and we'll see if there are any photos that are slam dunk evidence. With cell phone cameras everywhere, this should be easy.

I am happy to know others have seen the big cat in the wild's of the UP. Makes me feel normal, have always enjoyed the deer and the bear, visiting the bear pits in the 50's with my Grandmother and family members.

We were coming back to L'Anse from a dance in S. Range 3 or 4 years ago when Mimi saw a cougar leap across the highway near Keweenaw Bay north of Baraga. I saw a wolf a few years ago coming across the RR tracks at Hendricks in southern Marquette county. Big broad chest on that guy!
Have never seen a moose, yet. Have seen several bears, eagles, and turkey buzzards. Ugly, but the way they can fly is beautimous!

I read something on another message board regarding cougars and state DNR's seemingly refusal to admit there are cougars re-establishing themselves in the eastern states. Now this is just speculation, but the poster thought that the DNR was trying to keep the cougars "under wraps" as it were, because if they came out and admitted cougars were back, there would be an outcry from a certain segment of the public to shoot them in order to protect livestock and oblivious joggers.

Michigan DNR's webpage on cougars is http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_43573---,00.html.

I have seen a pair of cougars on Forest Highway 16 as I was leaving my Dad's in Mass City. That's been almost 10 years ago now. It was an awesome sight.

How exciting to see a moose! I've always wanted to, as you can see from my screen name.

Garnold,
the fact that you've seen a moose in Gay means that there are moose north of the Portage River. I didn't know that any could be found there.

I saw a bear on Brockway Mountain, crossing the road on two feet. We stopped the car because he was in the middle of the road. He sort of stopped, too, and stared at us. Then he lumbered away.

have seen moose in that area before