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 water 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 at well over 1,500 pounds. And while this hulking hoofer's velvety antlers are still sprouting, they may soon span more than 6 feet.

With nearly 90% of its land covered in forest, Maine is the 'main' center in the lower 48 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.