A hiking guide who leads excursions in Yellowstone National Park paused for a photo opportunity recently and later asked his Threads followers:
“Do you see the ‘moose head’ in this picture from Yellowstone National Park?”
Douglas Scott, who runs The Outdoor Society, allowed the use of his image so we also ask: Can you spot the moose head referenced by Scott?
Our only hint – not that one should be needed – is that this is not your typical Yellowstone critter quiz.
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Before we reveal a closeup to confirm your guesses, a few facts about Yellowstone’s moose population:
– Moose are the largest members of the deer family in the park. Adult bulls can weigh nearly 1,000 pounds and stand nearly 8 feet at the shoulders. Female moose are nearly as large.
– Moose that inhabit the park are part of a subspecies that range from British Columbia to southern Colorado (Alces alces shirasi). They’re smaller than other types of moose in North America, and well-adapted for survival in the snow.
– Bull moose typically shed their antlers each winter to conserve energy in harsh weather.
– Fewer than 200 moose inhabit the park. Because they’re largely solitary and prefer to remain concealed, sightings are fairly rare.
– The “moose head” Scott photographed is in the park’s northern range, visible from a Lamar Valley-area rest stop. Below is Scott’s closeup image.
“Moose head” growing from rock in park’s northern range. Photo: Douglas Scott
