The first time you see a moose it’s a little surreal. They look weird. Huge, rounded bodies with giant heads and spindly little legs that don’t look like they can support the bulk. In pictures they look odd. In person you see how tall they are and you realize you are staring at an Ice Age monster come to avenge the fallen.
No, seriously. Moose are mean.
When I first moved to Alaska I had a very City attitude to wildlife and lived with the happy assumption that big animals stayed outside the city limits. It’s a semi-safe assumption in most of the Lower 48 (all the USA that isn’t Alaska or Hawaii). It’s not an assumption that works in any part of Alaska because the wildlife took one look at humans and realized we were weak little primates not worthy of their attention.
It turns out that moose are not uncommon in Alaska.
At all.
If you want to see moose without trekking too far from the major roads the best viewing seasons is spring or fall. During the summers the (Anchorage) moose like to head up to the cooler areas in the mountains. During the winter the moose lurk in the forests closer to the city, but you probably don’t want to casually visit Alaska during full winter.
During the spring and fall you can spot moose nibbling along the edges of the road, at the park, or chilling outside your grocery store (which means everyone else is chilling in their cars because you don’t want to approach a moose at all).
If you do see a moose remember it is not a cute and cuddly animal, it is a vicious hell beast that wants to trample impudent humans to death. Don’t go near it. Stay well away and take a picture from somewhere safe.
