Most think that bumping into a grizzly bear is the scariest thing that can happen in the woods, and in some ways, that can be true. But if you’ve ever seen a 1,500-pound swamp horse with giant paddles on its head, it’s the kind of sight that can stop you in your tracks.
Moose are the largest members of the deer family, and their physical stats are genuinely shocking to behold, especially if you get too close. A mature bull can weigh upwards of 1,500 pounds, stand seven feet tall at the shoulder, and carry a set of palmate antlers that span six feet across. And despite looking awkward and top-heavy, a moose can sprint through thick timber at 35 mph. You are not outrunning them.
They are also incredible swimmers and can dive up to 20 feet underwater to eat aquatic plants. Believe it or not, there have been a few cases of orcas… yes, killer whales, actually killing a moose in coastal waters. But back in the woods, moose aren’t to be tangled with. During the fall rut, bulls are completely unhinged and will charge anything that moves. They don’t see very well, so rather than sticking around to find out, they tend to charge first and ask questions later. And much like a mama grizzly, a cow protecting her calf is one of the most dangerous animals on the continent.
The Elusive “Spirit Moose”
There is a certain majestic quality to white or albino animals that always gives us pause. They almost don’t look real, and when you factor in the rarity of witnessing something like this in the wild, it makes for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. I mean, it looks like something straight out of Narnia.
While true albino moose (with pink eyes) do exist, most white moose actually have a genetic condition called leucism. This recessive gene causes a loss of pigmentation in the hair, giving them a snow-white coat while their eyes and noses remain naturally dark. The odds of a moose being born with this exact genetic combination are incredibly low. They are so rare that biologists struggle to even put a concrete percentage on the population.
If you’ve never seen one, this throwback video perfectly encapsulates the awe-inspiring sight of an all-white moose.
According to The Washington Post, nature lover Hans Nilsson chased after this guy for three years just to get a good look at him. Finally, he came across the mystical moose, and two days in a row, he was able to encounter this amazing animal. Nilsson describes the experience perfectly:
“When I shot the video everything fell into place: the location, the light and the calmness. It was an experience to meet such a stately animal up close.”
That would be a dream, especially to have the opportunity to photograph and video an animal like this. It’s not often a moose stays that calm for you to get it in pictures, especially one this rare.
Sweden boasts an estimated 400,000 moose, trailing only Russia and Canada, but experts believe only around 100 of these white moose exist there. In fact, this is reportedly only the second one to ever be caught on camera. The highest concentration of these white moose is found near Foleyet in Northern Ontario, Canada. The local Indigenous populations consider the “spirit moose” to be deeply sacred and a sign of good luck.
Because a glowing white coat makes them stick out like a sore thumb in the dark timber, they are heavily protected. In certain wildlife management zones in Ontario, and a few other places, it is strictly illegal to shoot a white moose. However, in other provinces and in most places in the United States, it’s completely legal.
It’s always a point of contention in the hunting community, and while I wouldn’t personally take one myself, I can’t say that it should be illegal. That being said, thank you to Hans for searching for three years to get some footage of this beauty.
