The Maine Highlands Guidebook The Maine Highlands Guidebook | Page 9

Moose
Watching
MAINE HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF MOOSE IN THE
CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES. You might catch a glimpse of a moose
in any of the state’s wild areas, but some of the best places to see them
are in The Maine Highlands. Especially at Moosehead Lake and in Baxter
State Park, if you're patient and lucky, you might catch a moose snacking
on vegetation or pausing from a long drink, knee-deep in a pond.
BIG TIME
The moose is Maine’s largest mammal. Adult
males can weigh 1,000 pounds or more,
with an antler span of around six feet.
IT’S OFFICIAL
The moose is Maine’s official State Animal,
and the moose has been on the state seal
since the state was founded in 1820.
Birding
& Wildlife
Watching
in The Maine
Highlands
>  THE BANGOR CITY FOREST
AND BOG BOARDWALK
BANGOR & ORONO, ME
The mile long boardwalk trail offers
views of bog wildlife on the border of
Bangor and Orono. The bog is home to
hundreds of species of hardy yet fragile
plants and some of Maine’s rarest bird
species. The 4- 5 miles of trails that run
through the Bangor City Forest are great
for jogs or for snowshoeing or cross
country skiing.
>  BORESTONE MOUNTAIN
MONSON, ME
Located just southeast of Greenville and
near the southern end of Maine’s “100-
Mile Wilderness,” this Maine Audubon
sanctuary offers beautiful ponds and
a lake, set within a forest that has
remained uncut for more than a century.
A moderately strenuous, yet kid-friendly,
climb culminates with spectacular views
at the summit of Borestone Mountain.
MAJORITY RULES
In and around Moosehead, moose
outnumber people 3 to 1.
BE ALERT AND DRIVE SAFELY
Watch for moose in roadways, especially in
areas that are marked as a moose crossing.
>  FIELDS POND AUDUBON CENTER
HOLDEN, ME
Located seven miles southeast of
Bangor, Fields Pond features a modern
visitor center, an 85-acre pond, and
trails winding through 192 acres of field,
wetland, forest, and lakeshore, where
you’ll see many kinds of birds, including
songbirds and waterfowl.
PHOTO BY
Further North Photography
Guided Tours
A well-trained, registered Maine guide can outfit you for your
adventure and help you track down a moose or other wildlife by
water or by land. With a guide’s help and knowledge you can safely
and comfortably access the best spots for wildlife-watching—or
photographing—and enjoy the scenery along the way. Look for
outfitters that specialize in moose watching tours, or “moose safaris”
to maximize your chances of seeing one of these majestic creatures.
>  HIRUNDO WILDLIFE REFUGE
ALTON, ME
This 2,400 acre nature preserve spans
several streams and a lake. Extensive
peat lands, reverting farmland, and
diverse forests offer seven miles
of hiking trails and numerous
waterways suitable for kayaking and
canoeing, with many opportunities
to view beaver, mink, and birds.
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