Moose snacking on water lilies in Millinocket, Maine

© Scott Suriano/Getty Image

Of moose and Maine

As spring unfolds in 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 1,500 pounds. And while this hulking hoofer's velvety antlers are still sprouting, they may soon span more than six feet.

With nearly 90 per cent of its land covered in forest, Maine is the 'main' centre in the lower 48 states for moose-watching: The easternmost state is 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.