Paul Sundberg Photography

Monday’s forecast was for calm conditions so I thought I would take a drive up into the Superior National Forest and see what critters I could find. Stopped at a lake that I frequently check for moose but didn’t see anything. 

I pulled back on the road and out of the corner of my eye I see ripples. I didn’t even think about it at first then it came to me that there was no wind. Something else was making those ripples. I turned around and here comes this nice bull and starts to feed. Was fun to watch him dunk his head and come back up with a mouth full of vegetation.

Each time he pulled his head up the water poured off his antlers. He would hold his head underwater for several minutes.  Their giant snout holds a special shutoff valve that allows a moose to feed underwater without it getting in its nose.

There was a trail on the opposite side of the bay where I could get closer so I headed down the trail. I figured I was safe as long as he stayed on his side. He was in shallow water now so he only stuck his snout into the water. The “dewlap” or “bell” was still getting wet. Every time he raised his head the water drained from his mouth and “bell”. A moose eats from 35 to 60 lbs of plant material a day so he kept busy.

Paul Sundberg