Bear Lake, Colorado

[MyronL]

Man, I've been waiting for you to show us your mooses. Sweet.

[UncleTim]

I forgot to say this. The bottom moose with the red antlers just sloughed his velvet a few hour ago. The other moose are just starting. The red horns were all bleached, off white, the following day.


Once the velvet sloughs, they become real assh@les to each other. At first that behavior lasts about an hour in the morning, then all the bulls go out for lunch. They are actually all very good friends, until it's lady time. Then not so much.


This is about 17 miles West of Boulder in Brainard Lake State Park.

[Greg A]

Amazing. When I was at CU in the late 70’s there were no Moose sightings anywhere in the Boulder area.

[UncleTim]

It's all new. They were re-introduced in the 80's. For two decades they were thin. Then about 15 years ago, they took off.



Biologists (I have been told) evaluate the moose population for how they are using the given range. If more than 50% of the cows have twins, then they are said to be moving into the range and expanding. Last I heard, Boulder County moose cows were around 70% twins.


I might be a little off on the accuracy because I am having a little trouble recalling the actual numbers.

[UncleTim]

Just for giggles, a group of twenty somethings stayed with us this weekend.

They were taking an avalanche cert class just outside of Bear Lake. Digging pits and surveying the risk right outside the lake. 30° slope minimum.

Got about 15 feet of snow there now and -10 F at sunrise. Mostly skiers these days. Things will start to break up in the next 45 days.