Moose snacking on water lilies in Millinocket, Maine

© Scott Suriano/Getty Image

Of moose and Maine

As spring unfolds on the opposite side of the equator in the US state of Maine, the backwoods teem with life small and large. We'd say this lily-munching moose belongs in the second category. Moose are the bulkiest members of the deer family, trouncing their relatives in size: Bulls can weigh in well over 680 kilos. And while this hulking hoofer's velvety antlers are still sprouting, they may soon span more than 1.8 metres.

With nearly 90% of its land covered in forest, Maine is the 'main' centre in the lower 48 states for moose-watching: It’s home to around 75,000 moose, a number beaten only by Alaska. Peak season for spotting the crepuscular creatures (that means they like to come out to feed at dawn and dusk) begins now, in mid-May, and typically runs into July.