Warning – this blog post is not diet approved and should not be read if you hungry, attempting to eat a balanced diet, susceptible to binging on sweets, prone to dreaming of chocolate in large quantities or trying to lose weight. Dieticians have determined that no exercise will compensate for the ideas presented here. Krahnpix assumes no responsibility for any calorie intake after reading the contents of this post or any resulting weight gain.
I’m so pleased you are one of the few people to keep reading.
There is nothing new about watching wild creatures eating. It appears that fills up a good part of their days. But watching this moose chowing down on tender willows seemed different. It was not just grazing on dry grass or inhaling calories that happened along the path. No, this was a full body experience. I think I understand the concept.
The willows seemed to be quite common in Yellowstone, but there was nothing common about their vibrant colour. It looked particularly appealing for a photograph though I didn’t ever manage to completely capture their beauty. The willows added a dash of excited colour to every landscape they touched.
If I thot they looked good, then imagine what a moose would think! This was a buffet fit for a foodie! I can imagine it would get saliva flowing just thinking about wrapping those big moose lips around some succulent willow branches. Pure enjoyment plus all the nutrients.
So what would be a human equivalent? It depends on your palette, of course, but I’m thinking about standing in freshly baked chocolate cake still warm from the oven and ice cream floating by with gently steaming dry ice to keep it cold. Yes that definitely works for me!
And what strikes your fancy?
It is not easy finding a moose with a dry nose. They always seem to be near water and regularly take a sip.
Heading for the ice cream patch.
Every moose series should have water dripping off its nose. If you look closely you might see a few water droplets.
Krahnpix 
Moose are such interesting critters! We see them fairly regularly around here now – it was super rare in the ‘old days’. I saw one trotting down the highway ditch once and thought at first glance it was a horse out of its fence. 🙂 What a great thought, to be in the midst of a smorg. I wonder what it’s like to just walk around and nibble on random things like that???
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Yes you really wonder what changed to bring moose into this region. I envy the moose being able to just hang around and eat.
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No cutting comments about watching their caloric intake, or about their size amongst their own, I’ll bet. 😀
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Absolutely – too busy taking in more calories!!
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Gorgeous animal… I remember the first time I saw one, I was thrown back by how MASSIVE they are.
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I think I know that and then get reminded again when I see one. And their unique walk is really interesting.
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Would it be wrong to answer moose meat? with boiled potatoes and dille.. ;-P Or perhaps I should just say Pistachio nuts, that would be nice too. Great pictures, Lyle!!
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It would be ironically humorous … and gave you two answers. Glad you liked the photos.
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Beautiful setting for the natural food restaurant that Mr. Moose is dining in, but isn’t there a pizza joint anywhere in the area?!
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Thanks. In that neck of the woods the answer was actually no. Besides, I think the willows had more colour than the pizzas I’ve seen.
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I love your opening disclaimer and this photos are wonderful too. I have never seen a moose in person, though I have seen the highway warning signs about moose when driving in southern Maine. I was struck by the contrast between the delicate willows and the robust moose. How many willow shoots would a moose have to eat to maintain its weight? I haven’t done any nutritional studies of the willow tree, but it seems to me that it might take almost as many calories to chew on the shoots as you get from ingesting them. Have you considered starting a new fad diet, Lyle?
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Thanks. I had a little fun with the disclaimer.
It is an interesting contrast between the willows and the moose. While at first glance it seems like not much in the way of food, they are remarkably efficient at stripping it off and, like a stream that keeps flowing, they just keep eating. I suppose it all adds up.
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Beautiful photographs. I especially love the colours in the second and third picture.
Moose are great animals. The king of the forest, and my favourite meat 🙂
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Thanks. The colours were definitely eye-popping. The locals seemed to be all focused on grizzly bears but I loved watching the moose when we had the chance.
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I hate to think of how much the equivalent to humans would be, Lyle 🙂 and contrary to the moose I thing we would hav e to spend the rest of the day running up and down the hills in the mountains unless you’d aspire to some sort of a weight record? I believe it somewhere around 1200 lbs for the time being? (No thanks)
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Yes the moose seem to keep their svelte figures even with those volumes – we definitely wouldn’t fare so well.
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I am glad that this is not the animal that I hit tonight. It might have been life threatening.
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That’s certainly right. They are huge animals that could create extensive damage. Being in their presence reminds me again of their size.
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Mmmm…chocolate moose…or no, that’s mousse, I think. One of my favorites for sure. But I can see the appeal of fresh willows. 🙂
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Nicely played … I’ll go with the chocolate moose.
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🙂 I’d rather see a moose than eat a mousse any day of the week too.
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No contest there
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Great shots. I love the chance to see moose. We had a five moose vacation a few years back in the Tetons and Glacier. As for feeding – I’m waiting for the wild blackberry vines taking over part of our back yard to give us their fruit. Nothing like standing there, picking and eating the sun-warmed, sweets, whenever the fancy strikes!
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Thanks. Oddly enough, we also had a five-moose vacation to Yellowstone/Tetons. Great way to describe it. The blackberries sound great. They taste pretty good from the store so I imagine it only gets better that way.
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You don’t have to chew ripe blackberries off the vine – they dissolve between your tongue and the roof of your mouth! 🙂
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OK, that definitely sounds better than what I’ve had.
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My neighbor owns the company that makes Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream flavors. That’s sounds good about now. Terrific shots!!
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Thanks. That’s a neighbour you hope will offer to bring something to the next get together and unbelievably fitting in this context.
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Each time we visit they bring out all the ice cream in their freezer. Great neighbors!
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Good planning to live there!
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Gorgeous moose, especially with the willows in the background.
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Thanks. Those colourful willows constantly grabbed my attention but I kept thinking that I needed a moose to finish off the photo.
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I’m thinking Cheetos sound particularly good right now 🙂 What a cool set. I love moose, I got the chance to photograph one very briefly in Rocky Mountain National Park last year – massive regal beasts.
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Thanks. Cheetos work.
Your description of massive, regal beasts is so fitting. It’s easy to forget how large they are! Very pleased to be able find them. I also checked out the park you mentioned and that looks like a special place.
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Rocky Mountain is a great park – it’s much smaller but it’s know for it’s elk, moose, and big-horned sheep. The drive takes you to the continental divide and back down. It’s one of my favorites.
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So many great places to see …
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Not enough time to get there…
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