The Moose is Loose

There are certain changes one expects when they move from the big city to small town life. Growing up in Spokane, I felt I knew what I was getting into. However, today's walk with Niko made my heart skip a beat. On our daily hike into the woods, we surprised a Momma Moose with her two calves. The top pic was taken at a distance of about 20 feet. It's not a good idea to be that close to a moose and her kiddo's, so I quickly took cover up a rock outcropping. Niko and I watched for about 15 minutes before they took off. It took all of her self-discipline not to chase them away, but she was a very good dog and stayed by my side quietly the whole time. It was pretty impressive. She wouldn't have fared well against the moose. She was about 7 feet tall at the shoulder. Her calves couldn't be more than a month old. Dang, they're cute.