Hey Pete,
We even have a few Moose here in "urban" Williston. Closest I ever got to a live one was a touch less than 5'. Big bull. Didn't mean to get that close!!! He decided to change directions and must not have seen me in the dim light. Walked right by. That was on Isle Royal, the national park in Lake Michigan where they're pretty used to humans. Closest I've come in VT was 15' or so when one jumped out of the trees in front of my wife when we were riding on South Rd in Williston. My wife and a friend stopped in the road about 10 feet from the moose, and the two of them just looked at this moose who stood there a couple of seconds before crashing off through the woods. I didn't stop, just rode around. Glad he didn't mistake the bikes for something worth charging.
Last year or the year before, we had one wander into the parking garage at the Fletcher Allen Hospital. And one of the Cardiologists here almost skate-skied into the tail end of one on Mt Mansfield. Came around a turn and had to backpedal pretty quick. Realistically, that one is a bit scary. I'm told they'll kick if you startle them, and Bob said he was out alone with a head light on. Getting kicked by a dinner plate sized hoof just doesn't sound like fun!
So Rob, where are you that you see so many of these goofy critters, that you don't still get a kick out of them??
Todd
ps) Pete, you inspired me to name my tractor. Pebbles. When I add a bigger one or a back hoe, it will have to be Bam Bam.
